Question

Examine the principles governing relationship between political and permanent executives.in about 500 words

Answer 1

Answer:

Principles Governing the Relationship: Realizing that the functions of two executives are overlapping, it is necessary to demarcate their respective roles and norms. Two of the most important norms are neutrality and anonymity.

Norm of Neutrality: Three conditions form the basis of the norm of neutrality. They are (i) Changing of political parties, (ii) Meritorious bureaucracy and (iii) Permanent bureaucracy. In a pluralistic democratic setup, change of political parties in power is quite normal. The differences between the political parties are based on their preferences. The second condition of merit-based recruitment means that there are no extraneous considerations involved in selection of the most meritorious individuals for civil services. The third condition of permanent bureaucracy means that the changes of political parties in the government have nothing to do with the members of civil service.

All these three conditions are designed to ensure that the permanent executives works in a professional and fearless manner. As an individual the preferences of members of permanent executive may be at variance with the political party in power but the norm of neutrality demands that they do not allow their personal values enter their official work.

Norm of Anonymity: The members of permanent executive are expected to work behind the scene and avoid public gaze. This means that the permanent executive is to work for policies of the government irrespective of success or failures of those policies. In fact, the norm of anonymity ensures that the administration of policies remain unaffected and unhindered as far as possible.

As the concept of policy-administration dichotomy implies that the policy formulation is different from its implementation and the permanent executive is not responsible for the policies it implements, it should not share the result. The credit or discredit of the policies should go to those who have decided them, i.e. the political executive. It is the political executive who is responsible for the policies and therefore accountable to the people for them.