Administrative Traditions and Dilemmas Outline
Public Administration * Is organizing people to do complex jobs in pursuit of a broader, government-defined interest * Getting the government to work and manage -both promoting and limiting- the exercise of government
Public administration is a paradox in American democracy * Because of citizens’ antipathy toward government and their persistence on government protection and services * American citizens have always resented the exercise of government power and their ineffectiveness * The usage of power has always created problems for governments and citizens
Four Intellectual Traditions 1. Hamiltonian Tradition
Named after Alexander Hamilton, who is considered the true founder of American administrative state. He believed in an effective top-down government with a very strong executive power, but not powerful enough to threaten the liberty of man. 2. Jeffersonian Tradition
The Jeffersonian tradition celebrates America’s agrarian roots that promote a bottom-up government with a weak executive power. Named after Thomas Jefferson, he believed in a very limited government and that power should be kept in the people’s hands as much as possible.

3. Madisonian Tradition
The Madisonian tradition was named after James Madison, who was considered the architect of America’s balance-of-power system and peacemaker in forming the tactics to keep the peace between the conflicting Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian forces. 4. Wilsonian Tradition
Concentrates on the administrative power in hierarchically structured organizations.
Administrative Dilemmas These four traditions have created many conflicts within the American democracy in part because how bureaucracy should work and how bureaucracy ought to be integrated into the American government. 1. Wilsonian Dilemma 2. Madison Dilemma 3. Jeffersonian Dilemma 4. Hamilton Dilemma