Public Administration & Governance Flashcards

Under the council-manager form of government, which statement BEST describes the city manager's relationship with elected officials?

Answer: The council sets policy and the manager implements it administratively

In council-manager government, the elected council establishes policy direction and the professional manager is responsible for administrative implementation.

Which principle of public administration holds that government agencies must be answerable to elected officials and the public for their actions?

Answer: Accountability

Accountability requires that public administrators answer to oversight bodies and citizens for their decisions and use of resources.

A municipal manager discovers a department head is making hiring decisions based on political connections rather than merit. The appropriate first response is to:

Answer: Confer with the department head and enforce merit-based hiring policy

The manager should address the violation directly with the department head and reinforce merit system requirements before escalating.

The concept of 'administrative discretion' in public administration refers to:

Answer: The authority of administrators to interpret and apply rules within legal boundaries

Administrative discretion allows managers to exercise professional judgment when applying laws, regulations, and policies to specific situations.

Which federal law most directly governs how local governments must handle requests from the public for access to government records?

Answer: Each state's own open records or sunshine law

Public records requests at the local government level are governed by each state's individual open records or sunshine laws, not federal FOIA.

A city manager who follows the ICMA Code of Ethics is expected to:

Answer: Remain politically neutral and serve the entire community

The ICMA Code of Ethics requires city managers to maintain political neutrality and serve all community members equitably.

What is the primary purpose of a municipal charter?

Answer: To serve as the fundamental legal document defining the city's powers, structure, and governance

A municipal charter functions as the city's constitution, defining its legal authority, organizational structure, and governance framework.