Application: Foundations of Bureaucratic Ethics

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Application: Foundations of Bureaucratic Ethics

Contemporary policy debates revolve around interpretations of how a democratic nation is to be governed. The ongoing controversy over the meaning of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is an example of a modern-day issue rooted in early democratic principles. Given the nature of gun violence in the United States, the right to bear arms is a heated policy issue that warrants in-depth reflection of what was intended for this fundamental right. Part of the modern-day argument centers on whether government intervention in the form of gun control is what the Founding Fathers would have wanted. Debates about the proper role of government are as old as the government itself. The very fact that there still is concern about what was intended is an indication that founding periods in government are viewed as normative events, that is, events that established or instituted democratic standards or became the basis for democracy as we interpret it.

In previous weeks, you have analyzed democratic concepts, democratic principles, and democratic processes. Now you are asked to think more concretely about those issues by assessing whether democratic governance constitutes the very foundation of bureaucratic ethics. Those working in government are required to adhere to a professional code of ethics. American public servants take an oath upon appointment or election to uphold the principles of the Constitution as part of their professional duties. For example, a public servant should support the ideas of separation of powers and rule of law, which are basic tenets of American democratic government. The question remains, however, whether taking action that advances the cause of democratic governance is a legitimate way to assess ethical behavior.

To prepare for this Assignment:

  • Review the article “Public Management as Ethics” in this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on the considerations of a values checklist as an aid in developing ethical public servants. Also, focus on the values checklist as it applies to the practice of public management.
  • Review the article “Ethics and Comparative Administration” in this week’s Learning Resources. Think about the ethical obligations of public administrators as public servants.
  • Consider the argument that democratic governance is the foundation of bureaucratic ethics.
  • Think about whether you agree with this argument.
  • Consider what you believe to be “true” about the foundation(s) of bureaucratic ethics.

The Assignment (1–2 pages):

  • Read the “The United Nations of South America” document (located in this week’s Learning Resources). Respond to the questions at the end of this document.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.

Executive Orders

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“Executive Orders” Please respond to the following:
  • Create an elevator response ( a 30-second speech) illustrating either your support or non-support of President George W. Bush’s executive order #13440, Interpretation of the Geneva Conventions Common Article 3, as Applied to a Program of Detention and Interrogation Operated by the Central Intelligence Agency. Justify your response.
  • Argue the effectiveness of President Bill Clinton’s Executive Order #12938, Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, on counterterrorism and anti-terrorism.

“USA PATRIOT Act” Please respond to the following:

  • Pretend you have the ability to modify the USA PATRIOT Act in any way you want. Describe the change(s) you would make. Support your changes with sound reasoning.
  • From the e-Activity, summarize the law created by the state you chose to research and suggest one modification to or overall criticism of the law. Support your suggestion with sound reasoning

Prescribing Policies

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Assignment 3: Prescribing Policies
Due Week 7 and worth 170 points

Write five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

(Note: Refer to Review Question 8 located at the end of Chapter 5 for criteria 1-3.)

  1. Determine the following before deciding a prescription: (a) maximize effectiveness at the least cost; (b) maximize effectiveness at a fixed cost of $10,000; (c) achieve a fixed-effectiveness level of 6,000 units of service at a fixed cost of $20,000; (d) maximize net benefits, assuming that each unit of service has a market price of $10; (e) maximize the ration of benefits to costs, assuming that each unit of service has a market price of $10.
  2. Determine which of the two main programs (Program I and Program II) should be selected under each of these criteria. Justify your position.
  3. Describe the conditions under which each criterion may be an adequate measure of the achievement of objectives.

(Note: Refer to the Demonstration Exercise at the end of Chapter 5 for criteria 4-9.)

  1. Determine the assumptions that govern estimates of the value of time lost driving, indicating which assumptions (if any) are more tenable than others. Justify your position.
  2. Determine the best way to estimate the value of time. Justify your position.
  3. Determine the best way to estimate the cost of a gallon of gasoline. Justify your position.
  4. Determine the more reliable method to estimate driving speeds and miles per gallon by using (a) official statistics on highway traffic from the Environmental Protection Agency or by using (b) engineering studies of the efficiency of gasoline engines by the Department of Energy. Discuss any consequences of using one source rather than another. Justify your position.
  5. Estimate the value of a life saved. Justify your position.
  6. Determine which policy is preferable, (a) the 55-mph speed limit or (b) the 65-mph limit. Justify your position.
  7. Include at least two (2) peer-reviewed references (no more than five [5] years old) from material outside the textbook to support your views regarding the proposed U.S. response to the conflict in Bosnia. Note: Appropriate peer-reviewed references include scholarly articles and governmental Websites. Do not use open source Websites such as Wikipedia, Sparknotes.com, Ask.com, and similar Websites are not acceptable resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Local Goverment Cities

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http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/agenda/agendaindex.html
 

Click on “Current City Council Agenda,” and you can see how the meeting is organized.

Click on “Archived Agendas and Minutes” and you can see what they’ve done at previous meetings.

Click on a date under “minutes” on any given two-day meeting and scroll down past the people griping about potholes… past the unhappy tow truck drivers… past the recognition of Mrs. Smith’s 2nd grade class for the poster they made for National Milk Week…. just past the part where “President Joseph Charles” is complaining that the city is conspiring with the mafia and space aliens to remove all of his internal organs with lasers. Shortly after that, you’ll see where they recess until Wednesday. Wednesday is when the important stuff starts.

Pick a real agenda item from a Wednesday session at least a few weeks ago, where the minutes are online (but not before November, 2015), something where they’re changing a city ordinance or spending a lot of money. Pick something where there was some council discussion, preferably some disagreement, and a recorded vote. Write a 2 page college-level essay about the item, telling me what the item was about, who was for and against it, what happened, and what you think about it.

(Note: There’s not a lot so far this year that works for the assignment. Try looking at meetings from December, 2015)

(Please find an item with enough information that it gives you something to write about.  Find something where there was some disagreement, or at least some serious discussion.

Submit in Word. Cite your sources.