Rule by Law in Public Administration

TL;DR

Rule by law is a principle in public administration that emphasizes decisions being based on publicly deliberated and authorized standards, rather than individual will or intuition.

Transcript

rule by law is a distinguishing principle of public administration in the United States American systems of government operate in the principle that all public officials should rule by law rather than by will that means that decisions should be in accord with standards that are publicly deliberated upon and authorized by representative institutions... Read More

Key Insights

• 👮 Rule by law in public administration ensures decisions are based on publicly deliberated and authorized standards, rather than individual will or intuition.
• 🚛 Officials must articulate reasons for their actions to ensure legal accountability.
• 💁 Democratic administration under rule by law involves discretionary responsibilities, such as supporting colleagues and maintaining integrity in policy formation.
• 🖐️ Career officials play a crucial role in sustaining the duties of errant officials and ensuring effective policy implementation within bureaucratic settings.
• ❓ Policymaking capacity and fairness can be reinforced by career officials assisting policymakers without promoting their own biases.
• 💁 Realistic assessments and solutions are important in policy formation to avoid overzealous programs that exceed organizational capacities.
• ❓ Cooperative efforts towards policy objectives require coordination and astute bureaucratic politicking.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the principle of rule by law in public administration?

Rule by law is the principle that decisions in public administration should be made based on standards that are publicly deliberated upon and authorized, rather than individual will or intuition.

Q: Can officials make decisions purely based on intuition or personal judgment?

No, it is unlawful for officials to make decisions purely based on hunches or personal judgment. Decisions must be in accordance with legal standards and articulated with reasons.

Q: What are the three discretionary responsibilities in democratic administration under rule by law?

The three discretionary responsibilities include sustaining the duties of errant officials, supporting the integrity of the policy formation process, and ensuring effective implementation of policies within a bureaucratic setting.

Q: How can career officials contribute to policy formation without promoting their own biases?

Career officials can assist policymakers in various ways that reinforce policymaking capacity and fairness. They should avoid promoting their own biases and instead focus on providing realistic assessments and solutions to policy-making endeavors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Rule by law is a principle in the U.S. government that emphasizes decisions being based on publicly deliberated and authorized standards.

• It is unlawful for officials, such as police officers, to make decisions purely based on intuition or personal judgment.

• Democratic administration under rule by law involves three discretionary responsibilities, including supporting colleagues, maintaining integrity in policy formation, and ensuring effective implementation of policies.