Public administration aims to benefit the public through the interplay of politics and administration. Public administrators must use discretionary power to implement public policy, but safeguards like oversight are needed to prevent abuse of power. When balanced correctly, discretion allows policies to be tailored to specific situations, which can improve outcomes for those affected.

1. 1. The term public administration is traditionally defined as a
government agency. Reflect on the role of the public in public
administration. How does the public benefit from the interplay
of politics and public administration?
2. How does discretionary power influence the public
administrator’s role in implementing public policy? In your
experience, what are the safeguards from abuse of discretionary
power and what are the advantages?