Roanoke College – Public Affairs Department

POLI – 270E: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Spring, 2015

“For public administrators, the Constitution is the cause above causes."

-Dr. John A. Rohr

“Public and private management are fundamentally alike in all unimportant respects."

-Wallace S. Sayre

Instructor: Roy H. Kirby III

Email: (most reliable method of communication)

Classroom: WEST HALL, Room 210

Course Time: MondayWednesday from 7:30PM-9:00PM (Block E2)

Office Location: WEST Hall, Room 223

Office hours: MONDAY 9:00-10:00PM, WEDNESDAY 9:00-10:00PM

Office phone: 378-5148(please leave a message for me with Judi Pinckney)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a survey of the relationship between politics and administration, ethics and administration, and the theory and practice of public administration in theUnited States. Public administration pervades virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Even an act as simple as driving to the local grocery store to make a purchase involves heeding laws and paying taxes. Law enforcement and tax collection are but a few of myriad responsibilities that befall public administrators at the local, state, and national levels. Due to the importance of public administration in daily life, a more thorough understanding of public administration - as a profession and as an academic field of study - is in order.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students that receive a passing grade in this course should:

  • Hone oral and written communication skills, which are essential to a successful career in public administration.
  • Exhibit the ability to think critically in evaluating past and presentevents related to public administration, in addition to anticipating future events.
  • Assess the importance of public administration theory and practice.
  • Value the role that the U.S. Constitution plays in legitimating public administration and guiding administrative decision-making (at the local, state, and national levels). A key role of public administration is to “run the Constitution.”[1]
  • Probe the historical successes and failings of public administration.
  • Recognize ethical dilemmas that face individual public administrators when performing their duties.

COURSE TEXTS

The following books and materials are required for this course:

Milakovich, Michael E., and George J. Gordon.2013. Public Administration in America. 11thed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Ashworth, Kenneth. 2001. Caught Between the Dog and the Fireplug, or, How to Survive Public Service. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.

Fortsythe, Dall W. 2004. Memos to the Governor: An Introduction to State Budgeting. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.

Scott, Gregory M., and Stephen M. Garrison. 2012. The Political Science Writer’s Manual. 7th ed. New York: Pearson.

COURSE GRADING REQUIREMENTS

Final course grades will be determined by the following factors:

  1. Two examinations (mid-term and comprehensivefinal), which will be distributed in class (see “Class Schedule” section for examination dates). These examinations are assessment tools designed to measure student comprehension and application of course material.
  2. Exams will consist of a mixture of true/false and multiple choice questions. Additionally, there will be a written essay component designed to evaluate student critical thinking skills. The essays should be approximately one page or more in length.
  3. Mid-term Exam Make-up Policy:A research paper (page length and content requirements to be determined by the instructor) will be assigned to make up the mid-term examination, but only if the examination was missed due to a medical or family emergency (further verification - such as a doctor’s note - may be required).
  4. Final Exam Make-up Policy: The final examination cannot be made up after the examination date, except under extreme life-altering circumstances,[2] due to strict grade submission deadlines.
  5. Two(2) essays written by the student (each essay growing in length and course grade weight).The essays focus on applying theoretical course material to practical scenarios.
  6. More detailed information concerning essay topics, page length, required content, and final due dates are outlined in a separate handout.
  7. All assignments are expected at the exact time and date specified on the separate assignment handout.[3]
  8. If an assignment is turned in late (without prior approval by the instructor), it will receive a five (5) point deductionper dayfor up to seven (7) days (weekends, breaks, and holidays included) until the assignment is received.No late essay will be accepted after the seventh day and shall receive a grade of 0 “F.”
  9. Illnesses, family situations, and other unforeseen incidents do occasionally occur. If such incidents arise that may hinder assignment or exam completion by the required due date, please consult your instructor immediately (email is the most reliable method of communication).
  10. Five (5) One-Page Memosdesigned to hone student critical thinking and written communication skills by applying theoretical course content to complex practical scenarios, while utilizing minimal page space.
  11. More detailed information concerning memo topics, required content, and final due dates are outlined in a separate handout.
  12. All assignments are expected at the exact time and date specified on the separate assignment handout.[4]
  13. If an assignment is turned in late (without prior approval by the instructor), it will receive a five (5) point deductionper dayfor up to seven (7) days (weekends, breaks, and holidays included) until the assignment is received.No late essay will be accepted after the seventh day and shall receive a grade of 0 “F.”
  14. Illnesses, family situations, and other unforeseen incidents do occasionally occur. If such incidents arise that may hinder assignment completion by the required due date, please consult your instructor immediately (email is the most reliable method of communication).
  15. One (1) Current Event Presentation designed to enhance student critical thinking, research, and oral communication skills while simultaneously enhancing cognizance of public administration in everyday life.
  16. Presentation dates will be reserved on a separate handout and posted to Inquire.
  17. Being unprepared for the in-class presentation will result in a 15 point deductionper class session for up to two (2) class sessions until the presentation is completed. No presentation will be accepted after the second late class session and shall receive a grade of 0 “F.”
  18. Illnesses, family situations, and other unforeseen incidents do occasionally occur. If such incidents arise that may hinder assignment completion by the required due date, please consult your instructor immediately (email is the most reliable method of communication).
  19. Participation/Attendance Points awarded for thoughtful, respectful participation. This applies to class discussion contributions, paying attention when others are speaking, and attending each class session on time.

The final course grade will be determined as follows:

  • Essay #105%
  • Mid-term Exam 10%
  • One-Page Memos (6% each)30%
  • Current Event Presentation10%
  • Essay #215%
  • Final Exam 20%
  • Participation/Attendance[5]10%

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

  1. Students are expected to attend each class session and be on time.I respect student time by ending classes promptly, please respect the instructor’s time by being punctual. Any instance of student tardiness will count as ½ of an absence. If any student is more than five (5) minutes late, that student must talk to the instructor immediately after class[6] to explain why the lengthy tardiness occurred. The instructor reserves the right to change a tardy to an absence based on evidence presented during the post-class discussion. Students are permitted an equivalent of up to four (4) excused absences.[7]Students whose tardiness and/or absences seem to be contributing to unsatisfactory performance may receive a formal written warning concerning this problem; continued tardiness and/or absences after such warning will cause the instructor, in conformance with College policies, to drop the student from the course with a failing grade (“DF”).
  2. All written work submitted for this course must be typed in Microsoft WORD, double-spaced, paginated (pages should be numbered at the bottom center), using no larger than a 12 point font - Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman - with one inch page margins. Essays must be submitted electronically via the “Turnitin” process on Inquireno later than the time and due datefor each assignment.
  3. All written work must follow the writing format detailed inThe Political Science Writer’s Manual.
  4. Active participation will facilitate the learning process and benefits all parties involved. Each person shapes his or her own learning environment. Every class you take is as interesting or boring as you make it … so let’s make this class fun! (Even instructors disdain boring classes!)
  1. I encourage the RESPONSIBLE use of laptops in class. ALL OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES (which includes - but is not limited to - cell phones) MUST BE TURNED OFF AND PLACED FACE DOWN ON THE DESK.[8] It is a simple matter of respect for others. Additionally, internet access is prohibited for all students while class is in session.The instructor reserves the right to perform a visual inspection of any electronic device at any time based on probable cause of irresponsible use. Negative consequences are in order for inappropriate use of electronic devices (e.g. using the internet to browse websites, post on Facebook, view boards on Pinterest, text, etc.). A first violation shall result in a formal written warning and a grade of 0 “F” for the participation points segment of the final course grade. This will negatively affect the student’s final course grade. A second violation will result in being dropped from the course with a failing grade (“DF”). This will negatively affect the student’s cumulative GPA.Inappropriate use of electronic devices during examinations will be considered a breach of academic integrity!
  1. If you are on record with the Roanoke College Office of Special Services as having special academic or physical needs requiring accommodations, please discuss this with your instructor immediately. Accommodations must be discussed before they can be implemented. Also, please note that the student is responsible for scheduling extended times on exams and testing in a semiprivate setting; such preparations must be made at least one week ahead of time. If you believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not yet formally contacted the Office of Special Services, please contact the Center for Learning & Teaching (x2247).
  2. Students may not use audio and/or video recording devices in class (this includes features and/or apps on phones).
  1. You are a member of a learning community which enjoys intellectual freedom; but with such freedom comes academic responsibility. Doing your own work and properly acknowledging the work of others is the foundation that academia is built upon. When you arrived at Roanoke College you pledged to uphold these values and abide by the practices and policies described in the brochure “Academic Integrity at Roanoke College.” It is your responsibility to read this brochure carefully and understand it well.

In a course such as this one, it is especially important to cite and discuss your sources as a part of our intellectual exchange. And, as a matter of honesty, it is imperative that you understand what plagiarism is and avoid even unintended violations because any Academic Integrity violations will be dealt with swiftly and severely! For this reason, if you ever have any questions concerning Roanoke College’s Academic Integrity policy, please consult your instructor immediately. That is what I am here for!  Please follow the hyperlink to obtain more information on Academic Integrity at Roanoke College.

CLASS SCHEDULE[9]

Week 1 (Jan. 1214) - INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

  • An overview of the syllabus.
  • Read and discuss an excerpt (pp. 389-395) from “Public and Private Management: Are They Fundamentally Alike in All Unimportant Respects?” Official citation below:
  • Allison, Graham T. 2007. Public and private management: Are they fundamentally alike in all unimportant respects? In J. M. Shafritz & A. C. Hyde (Eds.), Classics in public administration (6th ed., pp. 387-403). Boston: Thomson.

Week 2 (Jan. 1921) -APPROACHING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

  • Read Chapter 1.

Week 3 (Jan. 2628) –THE REPUBLIC AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

  • Read Chapter 2.

Week 4 (Feb. 24) - THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

  • Read the Constitution in its entirety.
  • Public Administrators“run the Constitution” on a daily basis. The U.S. Constitution provides normative guidance for public administrators, issues commands, institutes policy, and enumerates rights while empowering and limiting government. So, please read the document carefully and critically.
  • Read pp. 181-194 beginning with the subheading “A Constitutional Theory of Public Administration” in Rohr, John A. 1986. To run a Constitution: The legitimacy of the administrative state. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.

Week 5 (Feb. 9 & 11) -ETHICS IN ADMINISTRATION

  • Read “Administrative Evil Unmasked: The Holocaust and Public Administration” (Chapter 3).Official citation below:
  • Adams, Guy B., & Balfour, Danny L. 1998. Unmasking administrative evil. Thousand Oaks, CA.
  • Read “Ethics for Bureaucrats.” Official citation below:
  • Rohr, John A. 2007. Ethics for bureaucrats: An essay on law and values. In J. M. Shafritz & A. C. Hyde (Eds.), Classics in public administration (6th ed., pp. 348-355). Boston: Thomson.
  • Read “The Gas Chamber of Philadelphia.” Official citation below:
  • Shafritz, Jay M., and Christopher P. Borick. 2011. “The Gas Chamber of Philadelphia: How a 1977 Incident at Independence Mall Illustrates the “Banality of Evil” Concept First Applied to Adolph Eichmann, the Nazi Holocaust Administrator.” In Cases in Public Policy and Administration, 87-96. Boston: Longman.

Week 6 (Feb. 1618) – DECISION-MAKING

  • Read Chapter 5.

Week 7 (Feb. 23 25) - FEDERALISM

  • Read Chapter 3.
  • February 25th - MIDTERM EXAM.(All material from the topics Introductory Remarks – Federalism will be covered.)

Week 8 (March 9 & 11) - ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY

  • Read Chapter 4.

Week 9 (March 16) - PERSONNEL

  • Read Chapter 7.

Week 10 (March 18, 23, 25) - BUDGETING

  • It is important that you read “The Politics of Public Budgets” (Chapter 1) FIRST. It introducesconcepts presented in more detail throughout the Forsythe text. See official citation below:
  • Rubin, Irene S. 2014. The politics of public budgeting: Getting and spending, borrowing and balancing (7th ed.). Washington, DC: CQ Press.
  • Read the following book, in its entirety.
  • Fortsythe, Dall W. 2004. Memos to the Governor: An introduction to state budgeting. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.

Week 11 (March 30 & April 1) - LEADERSHIP

  • Read Chapter 6.

Week 12 (April 68) - PUBLIC POLICY

  • Read Chapter 9.

Weeks 13 & 14 (April 13, 15, & 20)–GOVERNMENT REGULATION & ADMINISTRATIVE LAW

  • Read Chapter 11.

Week 15 (Thursday, April 23 from 6:30PM-9:30PM) - FINAL EXAM

[1] Rohr, J. A. (1986). To run a Constitution: The legitimacy of the administrative state. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.

[2]The term “extreme life altering circumstances” means serious, life-threatening illness (e.g. cancer, a massive heart attack) of you or avery close relative; the death of a close relativewould also applyunderthisterm. Appropriate supporting documentation will be required.

[3] Please expect at least two weeks for each essay assignment to be graded.

[4] Please expect at least two weeks for each essay assignment to be graded.

[5]Class participation is worth 7% and attendance is worth 3% of the final course grade.

[6] Meeting immediately after class is mandatory. If the student leaves class without meeting with the instructor, the tardy will be counted as an absence.

[7] The total of 4 absences can result from a combination of being late for class and/or absences. A student that never misses a class session, but is late for class 8 times has accumulated the equivalent of 4 absences.

[8] In case of emergencies (anticipating news concerning an ill family member, birth of a family member, etc.), an exception to this rule may be made through prior consultation with your instructor.

[9]The instructor reserves the right to add or subtract readings as necessary through handouts and/or Inquire postings. It is also important to know that the dates provided are GUIDELINES. There may be times in the semester where we lag one or two days behind due to a variety of reasons (e.g. inclement weather). When reading the course schedule, the important things to know are 1) the order of weekly topics will remain unchanged, and 2) students should have the readings done for a weekly topic prior to entering class. We cannot have a class discussion if the readings are not read ahead of time.