“Administrative accountability is a cornerstone of democratic administration. Discuss.”

Administrative accountability is very important because it makes sure that the people in charge of administration do what they are supposed to do. They have to follow the rules of democracy and listen to the people they serve, the courts and the government. This means that public administration has to work in a way that’s fair and good for everyone and that the people in charge are responsible for their actions. Administrative accountability is what keeps administration in check making sure they do not do anything wrong and that they are always answerable to the people, the legal system and the government.

Dimensions of Administrative Accountability

Political accountability: Control by ministers, legislature, and elected representatives.

The law is very clear about this. Judicial review and the rule of law are in place to make sure that the people in charge do not do anything that is not allowed. This means that the government and its administrative actions can be checked by the courts. The rule of law is what keeps everything just. Judicial review is a way to make sure that the government does what it is supposed to do and that is to follow the law. This is very important for accountability. Judicial review and the rule of law are essential for keeping the government in check and making sure that it does not abuse its power. The law applies to everyone including the government and review is a way to enforce this.

• Administrative accountability: Internal controls, hierarchy, and departmental rules.
• Professional accountability: Ethical standards and civil service values.
• Social accountability: RTI, media, civil society, and public opinion.

Significance

When people are held accountable it stops things from being done in a way that’s not fair. It also helps to prevent corruption and the wrong use of power. This makes everything more open and clear which helps people trust the administration. Accountability is very important because it makes sure that the administration is doing things in a way that’s fair and right which is good for everyone. This is why accountability is so important for the administration.

Limitations

When things are not clearly controlled it can cause people to wait around for someone to take action. This is because nobody really feels like they are, in charge of the overlapping controls. As a result people may become really cautious. Do not want to take any risks because of the overlapping controls. The overlapping controls can also make people feel like it is not their job to do something so they just do nothing because of the overlapping controls.

Effective accountability must balance control with administrative autonomy to ensure responsible and efficient governance.

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