Public Adminstration as independent Subject of a social science has recent origin.
Traditionally Public Adminstration was considered as a part of political science. But in Modern age the nature of state-under went change and it became from police stale to social service state.
As a consequence, the Public Adminstration, irrespective of the nature of the political system, has become the dominant factor of life.
The modern political system is essentially ‘bureaucratic’ and characterised by the rule of officials. Hence modern democracy has been described as ‘executive democracy’ or ‘bupeaucratic democracy’.
The adminstrative branch, described as civil service or bureaucracy is the most significant component of governmental machinery of the state.
Meaning of Public Adminstration :-
Administer is a English word, which is originated from the Latin word ‘ad’ and ‘ministrare’. It means to serve or to manage. Administration means mangement of affairs, public or private.
Various definitions of Public Administration are as follows-
Prof. Woodrow Wilson, the pioneer of the social science of Public Administration says in his book ‘The study of Public Administration’, published in 1887 “Public Adminstration is a detailed and systematic application of law.”
According to L. D. White “Public Adminstration consists of all those operations having for their purpose the fulfilment of public policy as declared by authority.”
Both above definitions are done from traditional viewpoint and related only to the functions and actions of Administration.
Following thinkers have taken a broard view while defining Public Administration –
According to Simon – “By Public Adminstration is meant the activities of the executive branches of the national, state, & local governments.”
According to Willough – “Public Adminstration in broadest sense denotes the work involved in the actual conduct of governmental affairs, and in narrowest senses denotes the operations of the administrative branch only.”
According to Gullick –
“Public Adminstration is that part of the science of administration which has to do with government and thus, concerns itself primarily with the executive branch where the work of the government is done.”
According to Waldo –
“Public Adminstration is the art and science of mangement as applied to the affairs of the state.”
Marshall E. Dimock –
“Administration is concerned with ‘what’ and ‘How’ of the government. The what is the subjectmatter, the technical knowledge of afield which enables the administrator to perform his tasks. The ‘How’ is the technique of management according to which co-operative programmes are carried to success.”
All above modern definitions of Public Adminstration emphasize the value based character of Public Adminstration and Public Adminstration as a science and art of administration. A close scrutin of the definitions reveal that Public Adminstration has following important characteristics or features.
Important characteristics of Public Adminstration :-
1. It is part of executive branch of government.
2. It is related with the activities of the state.
3. It carries out the public policies.
4. It realise the aspirations of the people as formulated and expressed in the laws.
5. Waldo and other thinkers insist on the commitment and dedication to the well being of the people. Otherwise Public Adminstration behaves in a mechanical, impersonal and inhuman way.
6. Public Adminstration is politically neutral.