Ethics and administrative discretion in a unified administration - A Burkean perspective

Lack of public trust and confidence in government can have a significant impact on the future of the public service profession. This study brings to the forefront a normative discussion of administrative behavior and the building of trust as perceived from the works of the 18th-century political philosopher Edmund Burke. By exploring Burke's concept of unified administration, it can be argued that institutionalization of administrative traditions can provide practical guidance for judicial use of administrative discretion. The measurement of success, in large part, will depend on national principles, peer coordination, customs, and institutional commitment.