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BPA 301 Week 1 Discussion Question 1

Based on your readings and explorations of the text, define and describe Federalism,

explaining what it is, what it means, and how you think it has changed over time.  Do you

think the modern day use of “federalism” reflects its original intended meaning?  Why or

why not?  Please explain using your reading of the text, course materials and research this

week. 

WEEK 1 DQ 2

BPA 301 Week 1 Discussion Question 2

Define at least three (3) of the following major theories in the development of public

administration (Formalistic, Reactionary, The New Public Administration, Post New

Administration).  Within your definitions and explanations, identify at least two (2)

individual/theorists, or people who made great contributions to the theory or beliefs,

explaining why.   Be sure to explain your understanding completely using your reading

from the text and course materials. 

BPA 301 Week 1 Discussion Question 3

Why do you think local governments are having such a problem funding the services that

their constituents demand? Give an example of this situation in your local community or

one that you are familiar with, and explain why this is a problem. Connect this to some of

the course material you’ve explored this week to back up, support and substantiate your

points.

In recent history, local governments have had issues funding partially from a property tax

freeze. The freeze creates a particular amount of increased property tax each year. The limited

amount of property tax and plummeting sales tax revenues creates a challenge in establishing

budgets which increase in costs and have no income. My town rarely needs to establish a budget;

although it receives funding from weather activities in the case the situation calls for extra

funding. As of last year, there had to be a snow budget implemented in order to recover from

some overspending that was done at the end of the year because of some unusually large

snowfall.

Article Analysis: Substance Abuse and Public Administration

BPA 301

Substance abuse is increasingly becoming a hot button issue in the United States. The

introduction of laws and policies have established institutions of public administration which

seem to bump heads with Federal laws; in result, there is not relief to the issue of substance

abuse. In the article ¨Temporary Crisis and Priority Changes: The Case of State Substance Abuse

Systems¨, the downfalls of the program is explained as the administration of the programs lack

centralization, which allows the ability to focus on the problem. In the attempt to improve

operations, the administrators will funds the programs which lack the finances to deal with

substance abuse problems.

BPA 301 Week 2 Discussion Question 1

There is another pending economic recession, announced by Wall Street, the government

and just about everyone in the media. You are a newly hired Program Manager working

for a government agency, and your boss has asked you to write a few key points to include

in his next “All hands” meeting of the employees to explain to them what possible effects

that the economic recession could have on the government, and therefore the government

agencies’ sources of revenue. Explain what you would submit. Use a couple of points,

definitions, concepts or theory (and cites if applicable) from the text and/or course

materials that are relevant here.

WEEK 2 DQ

BPA 301 Week 2 Discussion Question 2

Why do some communities have access to increased financial resources more than others?

Should there be more of an equal distribution by the federal government or even local and

state governments in this area of public finance? Why or why not? And how would you

equalize the playing field more, do you think? Use substantive and concrete information to

support your points, using the text, course materials and research.

BPA 301 Week 2 Discussion Question 3

Research the difference but sometimes connectedness of sales tax versus income tax. How

are they defined, and what is the connection, or is there one? What is your opinion

regarding the equity of sales tax versus income tax? (Include what your sales tax and

income tax is where you live in your response.)

The sales tax versus income tax issue translates to individuals with a low income not paying

income tax, but they do need to pay a sales tax for everything they purchase. This structure

appears to be somewhat unfair to lower income families in comparison to high income families.

The United States Census and Public Administration

BPA 301

In the United States Federalism is defined as the progressive relationship between the

federal and state government. Presently, Federalism has become the scenario were the federal

government has authoritative powers over state governments. The federal government does have some

leverage over state governments; however, local governments are still responsible for establishing their

own laws and policies. In fact, state governments are responsible for hosting their own public

administration process. This same definition of Federalism causes conflicts within the government. In

particular, the arrangement creates a conflict between the laws created and their cooperation from both

state and federal agencies. The most under appreciated department in the United States government is

the United States Census Bureau, the department which overlooks the services provided.

Public Education and the role of the Department of Education

BPA 301

In the United States, Public Education is the most important element of the

democratic process. This logic is the reasoning for the existence of public education in the

United States. The Department of Education, as part of the Federal Government, is the

leader in providing public education for the entire United States. The Department of

Education (ED) has internal objectives that they need to obtain in their mission to provide

education for all citizens of the United States. Each of their goals and objectives are better

explained through their programs and initiatives. For example, president Obama recently

signed a law known as the ED Recovery Act. This Act generates $67 billion in grants for

students and 40,000 jobs were created because of these ED grants; of which, 325,000 jobs

were in the educational field. The progress of ED is directly related to the performance of

other government entities in regards to funding, policy making, and judicial rulings.

BPA 301 Week 3 Discussion Question 1

In detailed analysis, explain your understanding of Cognitive Resource Utilization Theory.

Define and describe it, using the text and course material, and explain how this could be

applied to public administration and a public administrator’s job/role and responsibilities,

and whether it would be a good or bad thing and why.

BPA 301 Week 3 Discussion Question 2

Which resources and leadership traits do you feel are most valuable to a public

administrator in your opinion, based on your reading of the text and examination of the

course material? How do the limitations on authority often found in government service

affect the ability of these public administrators to make decisions in the public’s best

interest do you believe? Use an example if it helps to explain?

WEEK 3 DQ

BPA 301 Week 3 Discussion Question 3

What are the positive and negative effects of politics on governmental leadership? What is

the effect of media on leaders in government? Answer these questions using your reading

of the text and examination of the course material.

Roles of Administrators: Public and Private Sector

BPA 301

There is many things that the administration of public and private sectors have in common, although there

followed by several differences. In regards to similiarity, both sectors share the desire to achieve goals through

the administration process. However, the biggest difference between the two is that the management processes

are different. The Public sector is primarily managed by the government while private sectors are managed by

an individual or private group. The management for each sector establishes their own methods and tactics but

the desire to achieve the ultimate goal is something both sectors share.

The administration of both public and private sectors include the basic management functions: organizing,

planning, resourcing, and controlling. Each of the two sectors has the responsibility to follow these functions in

order to achieve the desired goals and maintain effective daily operations.

Team Funding Sources and Planning Paper

BPA 301

Education has always been a significant issue in the United States of America. In fact, many Americans

see education as the gateway to survival of democracy, production of the economy, and overall basic knowledge.

Throughout American history, there has always been importance placed on educating the poor on basic

knowledge at the least. In the past, education was based on the responsibility of the parents, but as of state, it’s the

responsibility of the entire country. Federal funding for education is strictly focused on maintaining a strong

educational platform in American because the evolution of the country depends on it. Federal funding permits

there to be educational programs such as elementary, secondary, and teriarity education to be available for

qualified applicants. In addition, the funding makes certain programs available for students that are disadvantaged

or disabled. All applicants must go through a process in order to apply for a grant from the government.

BPA 301 Week 4 Discussion Question 1

If you could change only one limitation on a public administrator’s ability to respond to

public policy issues, based on your reading and learning this week and thus far in the

course, what would it be and why?  Be specific and demonstrate your reading and learning

from the text and materials in the course.

WEEK 4 DQ 2

BPA 301 Week 4 Discussion Question 2

Read the article titled “Six Trends Transforming Government” in the Electronic Reserve

Reading this week, and compare and contrast it with the information in our text.  After

reading the article (and the text information), briefly summarize their content, then,

answer the following question: 

What public policy trend do you consider most significant at the federal, state and local

levels and why?

BPA 301 Week 4 Discussion Question 3

What is transfer of training and how is it used, according to our course text and

materials?  How can managers ensure transfer of training?  Explain your answer and

provide an example.  Demonstrate some connections and implications/applications of some

of this to the material we’ve covered this week. 

Pubic Administration and the Affect of Diversity Policy

BPA 301

The evolution of the United States as a multicultural nation has also created the evolution of public

administration. The introduction of new cultures, race, and ethnic diversities has created adjustments to the

creation of public programs and services. In particular, affirmative action is the single factor that is stimulating

public programs and services relating to racial and ethnic diversity. There isn’t any area in public administration

which is not influenced by policy and laws governed by affirmative action.

Qualities of Effective Leaders

BPA 301

Qualities of Effective Leaders

The culture of a company is deemed to start from the top. A team of personnel takes direction from the

department manager, and that manager takes instruction from his/her leader; the cycle continues until it reaches

the board members or CEO. This process is identical in both private and public sectors so both are inclined to

achieve an independent movement that will lead to one particular objective. Inside the field of public services and

programs, otherwise referred to as public education, leadership is the prime factor in achieving success.

What are the qualities of effective leaders in public education?

BPA 301 Week 5 Discussion Question 1

List and define each of the following, including an explanation of how they have impact

public finance and policy:

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB)

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA)

WEEK 5 DQ 2

BPA 301 Week 5 Discussion Question 2

Locate a non-profit that you support (financially or otherwise) or that you just believe in,

online.  Share with the class the purpose, size, cause and your best guess at the sources of

funding that allow it to operate successfully (e.g., grants, fundraising, donations, in-kind, or

even if you think the government sponsors all or most of their efforts).  Comment on how

this connects with or furthers some of the material we’ve covered this week and throughout

the course

BPA 301 Week 5 Discussion Question 3

Identify a local policy or governmental initiative recently in the news or media that had an

ethical impact on budgeting and financial policy. Explain what happened, who was

involved, and how budgetary policy was affected. What, in your opinion, should have been

done differently? Connect this to our reading/learning, course materials, the text, etc.,

from this week or the previous 4 weeks…

Government Website Paper: Department of Education

BPA 301

The department of education (ED) is responsible for a series of services including educational funding and

research opportunities. The wide spectrum of ED services makes the research, funding, and miscellaneous

opportunities impressive. The website for ED is based on the presentation of vast information regarding

educational opportunities. However, the vast amount of data on the site results in difficulties for the user

because navigation is more complex. Take special attention to the numerous amounts of links on the site:

Public Policy Trends In Public Administration

BPA 301

What is the intention of public education? There was one point in time when education was exclusive to wealthy

sons of the monastic community. Progressively there were more people exposed to education which ultimately

led to minorities and women being educated to a certain extent. Education did not have a standard throughout

the country so each state and social class had access to a certain quality of education. Moreover, education was

rather limited because women were subject to homemaking skills while men were exposed to automotive

education. Interesting enough, there was a point in time were only land owners had the opportunity to achieve

quality education. Historically, anyone who did not own land or female were prohibited from receiving an

education and wouldn’t be allowed to vote. Public education in this day in age is available for any race, gender,

or ethnicity. Moreover, public education is available to everyone because the funding is provided by state and

local governments; as a result, individuals are not affected financially by pursuing an education. The exact

amount of funding, policies, and procedures varies from state to state. In fact, procedures and policies vary as

well because the responsibilities of public education fall under the local government more than the federal

government.