Public Administration in America
Administration is a governmental branch that includes the operative, executive and most visible aspects of the body. Administration can be defined as the government in action. Stillman’s book tries to incorporate a number of concepts and cases in a parallel manner to enhance the understanding of public administration in the United States today. The concepts presented in Stillman’s book are time-tested and refer to scholars of high and first educational rank, which makes them viable. A contributor like Woodrow Wilson adds much vital information to the concept of American public administration. The case of this contributor is recent and is on the accounts of most public decisions and events.
Woodrow was the twenty-eighth president of America and added much significance to the state as far as public administration is concerned. During his time in power, he introduced a novel difference between administration and politics. Demand for bureaucracy that would lead and govern the state in a way independent of the branches elected for the government was his main principle. Equality was also a key concept of public administration where claims of superior wisdom could not justify a rule on the people. A legitimate government to Woodrow had a foundation on the consent of the people who are governed. The rule of experts is always the best, and philosophical rulers offer the perfect administrative environments (Stillman 35). Woodrow was not for the republican self-government, and this led to his distrusting it. His case was based on democracy which through the years has empowered most Americans making them drop off their ignorant, selfish and timid covers. Today Americans are wiser than before that is why an open and skilled bureaucratic and economical public administration has been developed.
Growth and development in the public administration field involves three stages. The first is the stage of absolute rulers with an adaptation of the administrative system to the absolute rule. This was the initial phase of the public administration in the U.S. This phase grew to constitutionally based government. Here the constitution is framed to help eradicate the absolute rule and administration is often neglected for higher reasons. The final administrative principle involves the new constitution which influences the making of a new administrative system (Stillman 52). This is the system enjoyed by the American people today and it is what brought them to power.
Administrative matters have always been about laws and rules: who makes the laws and what the law should be. Administration of the law by equity, enlightenment and speed with no friction is another matter of concern. Philosophy and time have contributed substantially to the public administration of America used today. There was no or little trouble relating to administration in the past. This is because the functions of the government relating to public administration were restrained with no complex systems of public debts and revenues.
Public administration today is studious and systematic requiring accurate adjustments and careful testing to meet the policy standards. The science of administration causes all the complications of public administration. All the government duties today are complex as it has to follow the whims of an entire nation and just a court like before. In whatever duty a state authority or government must take upon, cares and responsibilities requiring knowledge, experience and wisdom must be practiced. The ideologies of the states and the consequent proper administrative duties of the government have undergone serious changes. The science of administration has contributed enormously to the public administrative branch of American government. The science aims at straightening the government paths and strengthening the governmental organization (Stillman 56).
The growth of the American public administration sector did not experience much of difficulties throughout the years. The country has since been enough for its citizens having several rooms for employment and the liberal government principles. Skills in politics were unlimited, which made the country ready and careful with the methods and plans of public administration. Even though the process has been slow, the significance of the improved government system has helped America a terrific deal and made it the top country in the entire world. The state has expended in nature and stature due to the gained strength throughout the years (Stillman 61). Through careful adjustments in administration and immense knowledge of the same, America has advanced tremendously living its competitors in Europe behind.
Public administration is a business field and is defined by a political aspect. Its paramount duty is to rescue the executive methods from the costly and confused forms of empirical experiments. For this reason, America has regarded its civil service reform as a prelude to the public administrative reform. By rectifying the appointment methods and adjusting executive functions, America can obtain better ways of public administration to help in executive organizations and actions (Stillman 72). The civil reform aids in clearing the moral environment hence establishing the trust of the public. The services provided to the public in such cases are also nonpartisan and open to every citizen.
Work Cited
Stillman, Richard J. Public Administration: Concepts and Cases. University of Colorado, Denver, 2010. Print.
