1. Mixed public perceptions of government have suggested that citizens do not fully understand their government. How has public trust in government changed over time? How much trust would you place in government? Do people believe that government is inefficient and wasteful? In your opinion, is government efficient? Do citizens believe elected officials care what Americans think? Do you believe elected officials care what you think? Why do you think there is misunderstanding surrounding citizens’ understanding of government?

2. The text suggests public administration serves blended functions in a system of federalism. What does this mean? What do you think about the different levels of government having different areas of primary responsibility but not exclusive responsibility over any one aspect? Discuss this in terms of efficiency and in terms of accountability.

3. Although people believe that government has grown substantially, government has actually undergone changes at each level. How have federal spending patterns changed over time while state spending remained somewhat constant? What are the two ways to measure growth in government? What level or levels of government have grown the fastest?

4. One way to understand the work of government is to see public administration not just as a collection of departments, bureaus, and agencies but as a collection of basic tools. Why are the tools categorized as direct and indirect? Grants, contracts, regulations, tax expenditures, and loan programs should each be placed in which category of tools and why? What level of government tends to deal with each of these items (i.e., grants, contracts, and the like)?

5. For the purpose of studying public administration, we know that the job of government varies by level, that the job of government varies by function, and that the job of government varies by who finally provides the goods and services. What evidence is there to support each of these statements? How does each statement affect the way public administration is or should be studied?

6. Is the growth of government justifiable, or should we, with emerging technology, be able to do more with less? Do complicated national and international problems matter?

7. What are “special districts?” Do they present any particular problems for government leaders, citizens, and public administrators?”

8. What is “government by proxy” and how do you feel about it? Does it seem like the best course of action for our government to take given its size and scope? In your opinion, does it increase or hinder government transparency and accountability?

9. What do you think about the interplay between government at the federal, state, and local level? Do you think appropriate aspects are handled by each? How would you change things if you do not think the distribution of responsibility is well designed?

10. In 2012 there were approximately 90,000 local governments in the U.S. Discuss this large number weighing its implications. How is democracy/accountability impacted by this? How about efficiency? Which do you find the more important aspect?

11. Waldo coined the term “administrative state” to emphasize government’s growing size. How has the American administrative state expanded post–World War II, and is this expansion comparable to that of other industrialized nations? Has this development created a government bureaucracy that is inefficient, because it is held back by rules, but is simultaneously too powerful, because civil servants sometimes abuse their discretionary power?