The Role of Public Opinion in Public Administration

Abstract

The question of the representative role of public officials is an old one, but one that has become more complex as public administrators have gained quick and easy access to the views of the public through the widespread availability of public opinion surveys. Although they are not directly accountable to the public, nonappointed public administrators are nonetheless heavily involved in policy formation and implementation. This article uses several common definitions of representation to analyze the connection between administrator actions and public desires. It concludes with a suggestion that public administrators should act as enlightened trustees of the public: they should use their knowledge and expertise to make quality decisions, yet never allow the underlying public values to be ignored.

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