Foundations of PA
What is the primary function of Public Administration?
To implement government policies and manage public services effectively.
What ancient civilization developed the first recorded bureaucratic system?
The Mesopotamians, particularly the Sumerians and Babylonians.
Who wrote The Study of Administration in 1887?
Woodrow Wilson.
What type of government is ruled by religious leaders and follows religious laws?
Theocracy.
What principle ensures openness in government operations and decision-making?
Transparency.
What distinguishes Public Administration from private management in terms of decision-making?
Public Administration follows a bureaucratic, policy-driven approach, while private management is more flexible and market-driven.
Which dynasty in China introduced the Civil Service Examination System?
.
The Han Dynasty
What are the four key features of Max Weber’s bureaucratic model?
Hierarchy, rule-based governance, impersonality, and meritocracy.
What government type divides power between a central government and regional governments?
Federal system.
Name one major process related issue that slows down service delivery in public administration.
Bureaucratic inefficiency.
What are the five core principles that guide Public Administration?
Efficiency, equity, responsiveness, accountability, and transparency.
How did the Industrial Revolution impact the growth of public administration?
It expanded government roles in regulating labor laws, urban planning, and public health, leading to the rise of professional bureaucracy.
What are the contributions of Rousseau and Montesquieu to the history governance?
Rousseau emphasized the social contract and the general will, while Montesquieu introduced the concept of separation of powers.
How does an oligarchy function, and how does it differ from a democracy?
An oligarchy is ruled by a small elite group, while a democracy is governed by elected representatives or direct participation of citizens.
What movement emerged in the 1970s to improve efficiency in Public Administration?
New Public Management (NPM).
What are the three branches of government?
What major governance contributions did the Abbasid Caliphate introduce?
They developed structured bureaucracies with ministers (viziers) overseeing taxation, justice, and military affairs.
What was Machiavelli’s perspective on governance, and how does it contrast with Weber’s bureaucratic model?
Machiavelli focused on political power and stability, while Weber emphasized structured bureaucracy and rule-based governance.
Explain the difference between a totalitarian and a dictatorship government.
A dictatorship is ruled by one leader with absolute power, while a totalitarian government controls all aspects of life, including media, economy, and personal freedoms.
What are the three main elements of New Public Management (NPM)
Decentralization, performance-based administration, and digital governance
How did the Magna Carta influence modern governance and public administration?
Alt (What is the Magna Carta)
It introduced principles of accountability and limited government power, laying the foundation for constitutional governance and public administration.
A German sociologist developed the theory of bureaucracy, emphasizing a structured, rule-based system to improve efficiency and fairness in organizations. His model includes clear hierarchy, division of labor, and impersonal relationships, which has significantly influenced modern public administration.
4o mini
Max Weber
Compare and contrast the governance models of Weber, Wilson, and the NPM movement.
Weber’s model focused on bureaucracy and hierarchy, Wilson emphasized separating administration from politics, and NPM introduced private-sector efficiency principles.
What is the difference between direct democracy and indirect democracy?
What is the difference between equality and Equity
Equality: Giving everyone the same resources or opportunities, regardless of their individual needs. Example: Every student gets the same textbook.
Equity: Distributing resources based on individual needs to ensure fair outcomes. Example: Providing extra support to students who struggle with learning.