business case study 875
original_work_seeker
430813345_1.pptxFoundations in public administration Lecture 14
PADM 7300 | Fall, 2016 | Valdosta State University | Professor Yehl
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
1
14. Accountability/Effectiveness
Congress creates the organizational structure within which bureaucrats work
Authorizes the bureaucrats’ positions and the programs they administer
Congress appropriates funds
Congress retains the right to investigate how bureaucrats spend the money and run the programs
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
2
Paradox of Oversight
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
3
Much of what Congress does is oversight, yet the activity tends to rank low among congressional priorities
Many congressional actions involve some form of supervision of administrative actions.
However, reelection takes priority over routine oversight
Fire Alarms & Police Patrols
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
4
“Fire alarm” style of oversight; Congress responds to complaints as they arise
Congress does not manage oversight like a “police patrol,” conducting routine patrols at its own initiative
Fire -alarm oversight is low cost and effective
Periodic interventions sparked by apparent problems, members of Congress can more clearly define the goals
Purposes of Oversight
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
5
Assurance that administrators follow the intent of Congress
Investigation of instances of fraud, waste, and abuse
Collection of information
Evaluation of program effectiveness
Protection of congressional prerogatives
Personal advocacy
Reversal of unpopular actions
Congressional Oversight
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
6
Role of congressional committees and their staffs
Program reviews conducted by the Government Accountability Office
Gathering of performance-based information
Committee Oversight
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
7
Legislative review
Three sets of standing committees with responsibility for legislative review:
Authorizing committees
Appropriations committees
Committees on government operations
Importance of Information
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
8
Congress has many committees for oversight but needs better information
Congress’s ability to monitor administrative activities effectively depends on its access to information
Barriers to information exist, as does too much useless data
Barriers to Information Flow
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
9
Secrecy, particularly with conduct of foreign affairs, the planning of military strategy and tactics, and pursuit of intelligence activities
Excessive security classification:
Can deny Congress information that has no valid claim to secrecy or confidentiality
Can withhold information from Congress that, though secret, is essential to congressional decision making and oversight
Barriers to Information Flow
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
10
Executive privilege - a prerogative never mentioned in the Constitution but now asserted to be inherent in the president’s powers; popular during the Nixon administration
Barriers to Information Flow
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
11
Administrative confidentiality includes protection of private information such as:
Individuals’ tax returns, completed census forms, possibly derogatory personal details collected in investigative agencies’ files, and business concerns’ trade secrets and financial data
Also, confidentiality related to drafts, memoranda, and other internal records bearing on policies and decisions that may or may not be under serious consideration
Response: Increase Staff
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
12
Congress was overwhelmed with useless information for oversight
Congress responded by increasing staff
Between 1965 and 2009, congressional staffs doubled in size, whereas executive branch employment rose by just six percent
GAO
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
13
The 1921 Budget and Accounting Act transferred the government’s auditing functions from the Treasury Department to the new Government Accountability Office.
GAO audits the expenditures of executive-branch agencies.
Over time, GAO’s power has expanded
All-purpose, external control agent
Other Oversight
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
14
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993: Congress required all federal agencies to produce strategic plans and to measure their success in achieving those goals; seven-year timeline
Measures output, efficiency, customer service, quality, and outcome
Obama administration reinforced focus on this via performance.gov website
Assessment of Legislative Control
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
15
Two problems that hinder effective legislative oversight:
Legislators often have limited interest and modest capacity for oversight
Legislators will intrude excessively into the executive function, sometimes to promote self-interests
Fire alarms!
Working Accountability
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
]
16
Systems for holding public administrators accountable have the following elements:
Voluntary compliance
Standard setting
Monitoring
Sanctions
Accountability relies on:
Independence
Redundancy
Conclusion
Responsiveness and effectiveness of public administration depend ultimately on the ethics of individual public administrators
Quality and accountability depends on the decisions and values of administrators
Ethical PA requires careful balance:
Values
Training
Strong relationship between administrators and citizens
Text: The Politics of the Administrative Process, Donald Kettl]
17
Text: Fiscal Administration by John L. Mikesell
18
