ABSTRACT
The primary means of making public administration serve the ends of democratic government is to subject it to popular political control. Thus the dominant concern in the study and practice of public administration in democratic countries is the search for effective political control over those entrusted with its conduct, i.e. politicians in executive office and appointed civil servants. To be useful, public administration must also develop the capacity to attain goals. But political control is primary, for it determines for what purposes, for whom, and how well whatever available capacity is used. The effectiveness of political control also importantly determines whether needed capacity will be developed at all. Thus effective popular control is the fundamental condition for good public administration in a democracy, namely one that is responsive to the public and that both develops the requisite capacity and applies it effectively and efficiently to meet public wants.
