PART ONE: THE SUBSTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY 1
Chapter 1. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS: ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT? 3
Make Laws Work as Intended 4
Exercise Lawful and Sensible Discretion 7
Initiate Changes in Policies and Programs 9
Enhance Citizen Confidence in the Administrative Institutions of Government 13
Notes 15
Chapter 2. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS: ACCOUNTABLE TO WHOM? 16
The Public Administrator and the Elected Chief Executive 17
The Public Administrator and the Legislature 21
The Public Administrator and the Citizen 23
The Public Administrator and the News Media 26
An Overall View 27
Notes 27
PART TWO: THE PROCESSES OF ACCOUNTABILITY 29
Chapter 3. ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESSES WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH 31
Supervisory Direction and Review 32
The Budget Process 33
Internal Audit 36
External Audit 42
Special Problems in Accountability 44
Notes 48
Chapter 4. ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS AND METHODS USED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 49
Sources of Information 50
Casework 51
The Appropriations Process 51
Special Oversight Roles of the House Committee on Government Operations and the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs 58
Advice and Consent 59
Legislative Veto 62
Legislative Audit Agencies 64
Nonstatutory Informal Oversight 66
Other Considerations 68
Notes 70
Chapter 5. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS 72
Public Hearings 73
Polls 74
Advisory Committees 75
"Maximum Feasible Participation" 76
The Ombudsman 77
Investigative Reporting 78
Political Parties 80
Special Interest Groups 83
"Better-Government" Interest Groups 86
Summing Up 92
Notes 93
Chapter 6. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATION ACTIONS 94
A Hierarchy of Courts 94
Power of Judicial Review 95
Activist Courts 98
The Administrative Procedure Act 100
Cases Exceed Capacity 102
Accountability to the Justice Department 103
Personal Liability 106
The Changing Nature of Judicial Review 108
The Value of Judicial Review 110
Notes 110
Chapter 7. OTHER INSTRUMENTS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY 112
Freedom of Information Act 112
Right-to-Privacy Laws 115
Sunshine Laws 117
Sunset Laws 118
Civil Service Reform Act 120
Whistle Blowing 125
The Inspector General Act 129
Codes of Ethics 132
Notes 135
PART THREE: THE FUTURE 137
Chapter 8. PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY 139
Valid and Comprehensive Performance Measurement 139
Prompt Audit Resolution 141
Clear Legislative Oversight Requirements 144
Legislative Veto of All Agency Rules 146
Rigorous Senate Confirmation 148
Training in Ethics and Individual Responsibility 152
In the Public Interest 156
Notes 157
Chapter 9. IN RETROSPECT 159
Notes 164
APPENDIX. EXAMPLES OF OPPORTUNITIES AND PROBLEMS IN HOLDING GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACIES ACCOUNTABLE 165
INDEX 175
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 181