Public Administration: accountability and politics in appointing agency leaders
The practice of appointing agency leaders does create a difficult situation when it comes to determining accountability. This relationship between politics and administration is something we will discuss further in the coming weeks.
You suggested that when an agency leader is appointed he or she is answerable to not just those political supporters of the individual who made the appointment, but to everyone the agency serves. Although you state that there has to be accountability to everyone the agency serves, do you think that "everyone the agency serves" itself can sometimes be considered a political group that would require some responsiveness?