Ch. 5

Question 1

Westminster conventions

Answer 1

non-legal rules of the British constitution

Question 2

East Block/Constitutional Conventions

Answer 2

Framework: framework for nature and relationship b/w:

1. politicians
2. public servants
3. public

Question 3

Collective Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 3

1. Vote of confidence

2. Resign: Ministers are required to resign if they cannot support government decisions in public.

Question 4

Individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 4

1. Resign: Ministers are required to resign if they commit a major error.
2. Responsibility: Ministers must take responsibility for the mistakes of their department

Question 5

Public service anonymity

Answer 5

1. FPS report to Ministers (not media) who provide them anonymity - FPS strive for anonymity.

Question 6

Political neutrality (5 points)

Answer 6

1. Administration v. politics: Politics and policy are separated from administration; politician make policy, public servants execute the policy.
2. Partisan (political activity): Public servants do not engage in partisan political activities
3. Personal views: Public servants do not publicly express their personal views on government policies or administration.
4. Objective advice: Public servants provide objective advice to politicians; political executives maintain their anonymity in return.
5. Loyalty: Public servants execute policy decisions loyally, regardless of personal opinions.

Question 7

Politics-administration dichotomy

Answer 7

Politics and administration should remain separate; public administration is an instrument of policy makers.

Question 8

Propriety

Answer 8

the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.
“he always behaved with the utmost propriety”

Question 9

Restricting political rights of FPS

Answer 9

1. Public trust: political affiliation should not impact execution of policy.
2. Objectivity: PPS must provide objective information to political superiors.
3. Merit: advancement within the FPS should not be based on political affiliation
4. Exploitation: FPS should not be subject to financial or other forms of exploitation due to political affiliation.

Question 10

Expanding political rights of FPS

Answer 10

1. Freedom of expression: fundamental rights of freedom of expression
2. Tranparency: Deprive public and political parties of valuable information and insights
3. Merit: Merit system protects FPS from political action
4. Talent: FPS will loose talent if it restricts political activity of FPS.

Question 11

Trend for political rights of FPS

Answer 11

Trending towards expansion of political rights

Question 12

Ministerial responsibility and public service anonymity

Answer 12

Ministers must answer for the errors of their administrative subordinates.

Question 13

Competing values

Answer 13

e.g., DFO scientist - loyalty and integrity

Question 14

Values

Answer 14

1. ethical
2. democratic
3. professional
4. people (e.g., respect for the people we serve - dignity)
5. traditional values (e.g., accountability, integrity, neutrality, etc.)
6. new professional values (e.g.,. innovation, creativity, quality, teamwork, etc.)

Question 15

Partnerships - values

Answer 15

Good for new values (e.g., innovation), but potentially bad for traditional values (e.g., neutrality)

Question 16

Millieu

Answer 16

a person’s social environment.

“he grew up in a military milieu”

Question 17

Ombudsman

Answer 17

An ombudsman, ombudsperson, ombud, or public advocate is an official who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or a violation of rights.