Bureaucracy,

democracy,
efficiency,
responsiveness
DR. RANA MOHAMED
What is Bureaucracy?

It is a form of administrative system

used by both public and private
institutions. Simply, it is a government
body that is composed of non-
politicians but who are appointed to
help in policy-making and be in charge
of administrative tasks in government
agencies.
• In government, bureaucrats
implement policies, write rules and
regulations and administer them on
people, among others. In
organizations, bureaucracy structure is
divided into different levels, from
frontline employees up to the upper
management. While there are
countries doing well with this kind of
structure, there are also groups not in
favor of this system.
 Bureaucracy
• The word "bureaucracy" stems from the word
"bureau", used from the early 18th century in
Western Europe not just to refer to a writing
desk, but to an office, i.e., a workplace, where
officials worked.
• The original French meaning of the word
bureau was the baize used to cover desks. The
term bureaucracy came into use shortly before
the French Revolution of 1789, and from there
rapidly spread to other countries. 4
 bureaucracy
• In a literal sense, bureaucracy
means the rule of offices. In
democratic systems however
political power belongs to the
people, and administrative offices
are created only for the execution
of legal rules not for political or
other influences. 5
 Bureaucracy
• Bureaucracy is the structure and
regulations in place to control
activity, usually in large organizations
and government. While its purpose is
officially limited to administrative
functions, in practice the
interpretation and execution of
policy can lead to informal influence. 6
 Democracy versus Bureaucracy
• Equality. • Hierarchy.
• Rotation in office. • Seniority.
• Freedom. • Command.
• Pluralism. • Unity.
• Participation based on
• Citizen participation. enterprise.
• Openness. • Secrecy.
• Community. • Impersonality.
• Legitimacy based on • Legitimacy based on
election. expertise.
 Democracy Bureaucracy

It is a government made by It is a form of government made

Definition
people. by officials and administrators.

The people representatives run

Government The officials are non-elective.
the government.

The government works on The officials work on making

Work
making laws. the paperwork for the law.

The officials and administrative

The people form the
Office form the body of the
government.
government.
 Values of Democracy
• Democracy refers to a political system in
which the interests of the people at large
prevail.

• Democracy involves :
 Individualism,
 Equality, and
 Liberty
 Individualism : refers to the idea that the
dignity and integrity of the individual is of
supreme importance.

 Equality : means that each individual has an

equal claim to life, liberty .

 liberty means that the individual citizen of a

democracy should have a high degree of self
determination.
He / She should have the maximum opportunity to
select his / her own purpose in life and to choose the
means to accomplish them.
 What is GOVERNMENT?
The word government has two general
meanings:
First, it refers to "the legal entity that maintains
order and provides the goods and services
society requires". In such case, it has
authority to enforce laws and to compel the
payment of tax. In Egypt, the term can refer
to the national, central, local government or
to all of them collectively.
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 What is a GOVERNMENT?
Second, Government can refer to "the process
of maintaining social order and supplying
goods and services".
The word has its origin in the Greek term for
"the pilot of a ship" suggesting that to
govern is to steer a society's development
and to make choices that continually create
its future.

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POLITICS IN PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION

We must distinguish GOVERNMENT from

POLITICS.
As Government carries out its duties, it
inevitably (gives) benefits on some groups and
denies them to others. For instance, those who
live near airports do enjoy more convenient
access than those farther away, but if they live
under the main takeoff route they definitely
suffer "intolerable noise“.
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 POLITICS
What does it mean?

POLITICS is thus concerned

with government's use of its
legal authority to distribute
benefits and costs among
members of a society.

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What Government Does: The Public
Purposes
Public Purposes = The Broad Tasks the Public
expects Government to carry out. These
encompass all the objectives for Government's
exercise of its vast power and authority and
the beneficial impacts on society they are
intended to have.
The Public goods may be supplied by a
government agency (e.g., access to a freeway),
or a private source may provide it (e.g., a
guaranteed student loan). 15
 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE
1.Protect lives, Examples:
property, and rights of National defense
citizens Anti-discrimination
regulations
Public health & disease
control
Police & fire protection
Workplace safety
regulation

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 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

2. Maintain/ensure Examples:
supply of Essential Emergency food
resources supplies
Water & electricity
supply

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 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

3. support Examples:
persons unable Pensions for
to care for retired persons
themselves.
Home/therapy for
disabled
Unemployment

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 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

4. Promote steady and Examples:

balanced economic growth Interests rate regulation
Financing for new
businesses
stimuli to international
trade
Employment skills training
Transportation facilities
Labor/management
negotiations

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 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

5. Promote quality of Examples:

life and personal
Education, early
opportunity to
childhood to
succeed
adult
Housing assistant
Cultural amenities
Recreational
facilities
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 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

6. protect natural Examples:

environment
Conservation of soil
and water resources
Wildlife protection
Pollution control
Wastes management

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 THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE

7. Promote scientific Examples:

and technological
Advancement subsidies to scientific
research
Space exploration
Patents for inventions
Information dissemination

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First, Protect lives, property, and rights of
citizens
The government intends here to secure
citizens rights to life, liberty.
Threats to these basic rights may arise
from a hostile nation, other citizens, natural
disasters, the random nature of life, or
within the government itself.
Although the risk of death or destruction
cannot be eliminated, the authority and
resources of government can reduce it.
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 Second, Maintain/ensure supply of
Essential resources
The governments strive to
maintain or ensure the supply of
such essential resources as water,
food, medicine, shelter, and energy.
Today, governments and private
enterprises share this responsibility
in complex ways.
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Third, support persons unable to care for
themselves
Governments support those who
cannot care for themselves :
neglected children, persons with
mental or physical disabilities, the
unemployment, and others who
become dependent.
Their needs are diverse and often
complex. 25
 Fourth, Promote steady and balanced
economic growth

The Government has a responsibility for

promoting steady and balanced economic
growth. The fully "free market" does not
exist, and employment, domestic and
international trade, availability of credit,
and the value of the Pound are highly
sensitive to whatever government does.

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Fifth, promote quality of life and personal
opportunity to succeed.
Governments have acquired a
broad mission to promote the
"quality of life" and personal
opportunity to succeed.
Education from early childhood
to late in life is a centerpiece of
this effort.
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Sixth, protect natural environment

Governments are responsible for

protecting the natural environment
from unthinking exploitation and ruin.
Such a purpose has a global
dimension and thus, the government
does need to participate in
international policy and administrative
action.
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 Finally, Promote scientific and
technological Advancement
Governments must promote
scientific and technological
advancement and disseminate
the information gained from
research so it can be applied
throughout the society.
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