Civics U: Administrative and Moral
The elements and components of government operations have both administrative and moral aspects. The administrative aspects have to do with the how – how the action is performed and whether the operation or action is efficient, effective, and productive. The moral aspect has to do with the what – what the purpose is and whether the operation or action is honest, constructive, and helpful to the people it serves or the society in general.
This applies to operations and departments that are called “administrative” and to persons in positions called administrators with various titles. It also applies to the departments and components and to the staff or workers who carry out the operations. Let us look at just a few illustrations.
The President of the U.S. may be an effective or ineffective administrator as he leads and supervises cabinet members and other subordinates, as he makes decisions about personnel and policy. At the same time, the President’s actions may be seen as “right” and “good”, or not, in terms of what they promote and whom they benefit.
Said another way, a person might agree with a President’s position and philosophy, but find the President to be a poor administrator. Or vice versa.
The same can be said of elected officials and department heads at all levels (federal, state, municipal). It can also be said of staff and employees whose work implements the operations. They may be skilled and effective in their work. But the effect can also be judged in terms of its effect on those they serve. For example, are costs and charges – such as taxes and fees – fair? Are the services rendered equitably to all constituents?
Does an elected or hired official, however skilled, give favor to some person or group over another? Do they carry out operations for their own self-interest or that of certain allies, friends, or cohorts? These are moral aspects of government and governing. They can apply to hiring, contracting, and using one’s influence, ‘connections’, and power.
They also actually apply to all actions by government individuals and entities, and by citizens. Many decisions, including filling vacancies, voting for (or against) candidates, voting on city or school bond issues and referenda, may involve questions of self-interest vs. matters of ‘the greater good’. Decisions about using tax dollars to support causes in other countries may be made in terms of the cost-benefit ratio involved. The ratio may be expressed in monetary and administrative terms. But the taking of the tax monies, and the nature of the cause supported, may also be assessed in moral terms.
In other words, all governmental – all human – actions and choices are based on and reflect underlying values and goals. And to be fully responsible they must satisfy both administrative and moral considerations.
While this has been stated here in somewhat abstract terms, the administrative and moral considerations apply to debates and decisions about everything from whether a city should budget and build a new city playground, to whether Indian tribal courts should handle all crimes committed on Indian land, to whether the country should budget and expand interstate highways, to currently contested matters such as U.S. business involvement with China (that is, with the Chinese Communist Party), allowing or prohibiting abortions, requiring women to register for the draft, using coal or uranium for power, involving parents in school policy making, mandates regarding COVID-19, increasing deficit spending, and more.
In any decision there are the practical, pragmatic matters of implementation and measuring results, and the moral matters of effects on individual persons, society, systems, animals, ecosystems, etc. Debates, whether in Congress, in the Supreme Court, or around the dinner table, may focus on either or both of these considerations, and decisions and divisions may be based primarily on one or the other or both.
Thus, it is important for students in civics classes to learn not only about the branches and roles of government, but to learn about and reflect on the moral principles that formed the foundation of the American system of government as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and key court cases.
P.S. A personal note. This past week I attended the Festival of Trees in the small town of Holbrook, AZ. I found the beauty and creativity and the community participation represented by the 60 trees to be uplifting. Then, on a clear and brisk early Saturday morning, I attended the balloon festival at Gallup, NM, and watched as 70 balloons ascended against the background of the red rocks into the clear blue sky. Watching the rise of the colorful balloons was exhilarating. But equally inspiring was seeing all of the families and people of all ages enjoying the sight. Amidst the political and social polarization in our country in recent years, these healthy community and family events gave me hope that our country can still join together and thrive in good ways.