ABSTRACT
John Rawls was the most significant political philosopher in the United States during the twentieth century. His work revitalized discussions of social equity in public administration and provided a focal point for critical reflection about social institutions. Publishing in over a hundred articles and books between 1950 and 2002, Rawls presented most of his ideas in three books: A Theory of Justice, Political Liberalism, and Justice as Fairness: A Restatement. The following includes a summary of the development of the theory of justice within these three books, a discussion of its significance for public administration and public policy, and a summary of criticisms.
