Frank J. Goodnow, (circa. 1890), in his book in part claimed a distinction between politics and administration as “the expression of the will of the state and the execution of that will.” In his later chapters, however, he differentiated the functions of administration. He thought that some functions should be subject to political control, whereas others should be free of politics; for example he concluded that certain kinds of offices should be politically appointed and removable, whereas others should be protected by civil service tenure.
What did Goodnow mean by “the expression of the will of the state and the execution of that will”?
Which aspect of criminal justice administrations should be under political control and what aspects should be free from politics, in your opinion? Explain and give examples.
Full Answer Section
Goodnow's distinction between politics and administration has been influential in the development of public administration. However, it has also been criticized. Some people argue that it is impossible to separate politics and administration completely. They argue that all decisions, even administrative ones, have political implications. Others argue that Goodnow's distinction is too simplistic. They argue that there are many different types of decisions, and that the level of political involvement should vary depending on the type of decision.
In the context of criminal justice administration, I believe that some aspects should be under political control, while others should be free from politics.
The aspects that should be under political control are those that involve setting the goals of the criminal justice system and the policies that will be used to achieve those goals. This includes decisions about things like sentencing laws, parole and probation policies, and the allocation of resources to different law enforcement agencies. These are all decisions that have a significant impact on the lives of citizens, and they should be made by elected officials who are accountable to the public.
The aspects that should be free from politics are those that involve the day-to-day operations of the criminal justice system. This includes things like hiring and firing of police officers, investigating crimes, and prosecuting criminals. These are all tasks that require expertise and impartiality, and they should be carried out by career professionals who are not subject to political interference.
For example, the decision of whether to increase the number of police officers in a city should be made by elected officials. This is a political decision that has a significant impact on the lives of citizens. However, the decision of how to investigate a particular crime should be made by the police department. This is a professional decision that requires expertise and impartiality.
I believe that it is important to strike a balance between political control and administrative freedom in criminal justice administration. This will help to ensure that the system is responsive to the needs of the public, while also ensuring that it is fair and impartial.
Sample Answer
Frank J. Goodnow was an American political scientist who is considered to be one of the founders of public administration. In his book Politics and Administration, he argued that there is a distinction between politics and administration. Politics is the process of making decisions about the goals of government and the policies that will be used to achieve those goals. Administration is the process of carrying out those policies.
Goodnow argued that politics should be kept separate from administration. This is because he believed that politics should be based on public opinion, while administration should be based on expertise and efficiency. He also believed that political appointees would be more likely to be influenced by political considerations, while civil servants would be more likely to be impartial and objective.