Question

8. Identify and briefly differentiate the three disparate approaches of public administration and how they relate to the concept of separation of powers.

Answer 1

The three different approaches to public administration are -Managerial, Political and Legal approaches

Managerial approach

Public administration is like running a private office.

The managerial principles and values of running a business apply here. This approach is about efficiency, effectiveness, and economy.

It promoted a bureaucratic organizational structure with separation of functions and departments along with an emphasis on meritocracy. The approach laid out an impersonal view of individuals- dehumanizing. There is more importance on processes rather than humans. The worker is an appendage in the process

Political approach

It is based on apparent reality rather than theory. The administration is organized around political views and values.

The values supported include representativeness, political responsiveness and accountability( through elected officials) to the public.

It proposes an organization structure supporting political pluralism where there is a participation of people with different values, interests, and sections. The individual is considered a part of a group. It is considered as an inefficient and unmanageable approach

Legal approach

The role of the public administration is to apply and enforce the law (policies). It is derived from three sources - Administrative law, Movement towards judicialization and Constitutional law.

Values of legal approach include Procedural due process, Individual rights, and Equity.

Organizational structure is adjudicatory to maximize adversary procedure (that favors dealing with arguments). The approach views the individual as a unique person and deals with his issues

Separation of Powers

When power gets accumulated in one place, it can lead to abuse of power and become dangerous. So power must be separated to keep checks and balances. The power is any government is usually divided into three distinct branches-

• Judicial – Interprets laws
• Legislature – makes laws
• Executive Branch - executes or implements the laws

In the three approaches to public administration,

• The managerial approach shows the executive nature of public administration

• The political approach shows legislative nature of public administration

• The legal approach shows the judicial nature public administration

Public executives make rules, implement rules and adjudicate regarding their application. In public administration, all the three powers confluence, and collapse