ABSTRACT
The political accountability emphasizes responsiveness, in contrast to the deference given organizational employees in systems characterized by professional accountability. Accountability is approached from the perspective of the individual public service professional, emphasizing the distinction between the professional role and the roles of elected leaders and political appointees. The public professional's accountability unavoidably includes demonstrating the policy leadership provided by the representative democracy structure. The professional role from the perspective of sources of accountability is important in their work. The public sector is built on a foundation of constitutionalism and rule of law. The concept of accountability is identified by some of its sources for the public professional: lawfulness, elected leaders and organizational superiors, citizens, professional norms, the public interest, and the values of effectiveness, transparency, and duty. These define the nature of public service in a democracy, the reasons for a professional public service, and its relationship to citizens and the broader public interest.
