Government Structure - What Are the Implications for Good Public Management?

Topic: The differing interests of politicians and bureaucrats are thought to contribute to tensions in the relationship between these two groups of actors. In which ways are their interests different? What are the implications for good public management?

Differing interests will most often contribute tensions in any relationship. No matter if the relationship is between two people, two families, two groups of peers, or in this complex and intertwined case; two groups of government actors. In the Machinery of Government of Canada the politicians and bureaucrats both fall into the executive branch. Politicians are elected and bureaucrats are nonelected. Both the prime minister and cabinet bureaucracy are at the centre of policy making decisions, both choosing and implement laws. They must work together to ensure the public's business is carried out efficiently, accountably and in unity with the laws they have implemented. Working in unison is difficult though when each group has different priorities and reasons influencing their responsibilities. Such as, "the main difference between top level politicians and top level bureaucrats lies in how they are held accountable. Politicians are held accountable at the elections, for how they have pleased the voters. Top level bureaucrats are accountable to their professional peers or to the public at large, for how they have fulfilled the goals of their organization" (Alesina & Tabellini, 2005).

In general the politician's priorities are to get elected and then repeatedly re-elected. They have limited tenures, constantly needing to think about reactions from the general public and in some cases about voters in their individual constituencies. Politicians are in charge of setting general targets and aims for legislation which they have to try to get passed by their elected federal, provincial, and municipal councils. They have to pay attention to the various opinion polls that are conducted by their own and outside agencies. They also have to deal with unforeseen problems that arise and give directions to permanent employees i.e. the civil service. Whereas bureaucrats i.e. the public servants, do not set policy but are charged with carrying out the directions of government. This implementation function consists of the bureaucrats making recommendations to the politicians, the politicians sending their choices back to the bureaucrats, who then put decisions into operation. They are also expected to give sound advice on steps to be followed by their respective ministers and to warn them from taking actions that might put their elected bosses in difficulties with the public, business or other governments. For the government to work properly it needs to have thousands of public servants. With these thousands of roles given a bureaucracy is hierarchically structured and the line of authority is very clearly delineated. Being a bureaucrat is designed to be free of political interference, therefore non-partisans with no political interference. Bureaucrats are also more career-focused and stay in the shadows i.e.) "grey faceless".

When focusing on roles and interest the cabinet bureaucracy power has control over the budget, and determines the entire legislative plan of the government. For support to the decision making the bureaucrats have Central Agencies. The Central Agencies provide information to the cabinet, apply their decisions to other parts of the public service, and communicate cabinet decisions internally and externally. On the other hand the Prime Minister decides when an election will be held which falls into line with their priorities being to be elected and re-elected. The Prime Minister can also decide the administrative and decision making process of government. Within the Canadian government the Prime Minister has had a growing dominance. A strong influence in this is the style chosen by the Prime Minister. I.e.) Stephen Harpers style of control and having it over the entire government. This style chosen for leading relates to models chosen to follow policies. The politicians have the upper hand and large deciding factor in fiscal policy. The bureaucrats have the role for reviewing and running it therefore they do not choose tax rates, or amount of spending for their department. Referring to the tax rates is similar to the Stephen Harper style of control. Tax collection requires "Machine Model" which is dominated by rules, regulations and standards. Foreign policy decisions are made by politicians who use the "Network Model". This model uses the approach of "connect, communicate and collaborate".