Introduction

In 1787, 55 white men from 12 of the 13 original colonies met in a series of sessions spanning from May to September. During this time they hashed out the broad strokes and then the details of what would become the government that the U.S. has today.

There are some pretty major differences between the country that they set up back then and what we have now. The Constitution has been formally amended 27 times. The Courts have reinterpreted it over and over, changing how and when the government is able to operate. The context of our society is so radically different in 2023 than it was in 1787 that it is difficult to even imagine the Founding Fathers including things like a Space Force, an Environmental Protection Agency, or a Federal Reserve in their framework. Did you know that you need a license to give tours in Washington D.C., and that if you are caught making money by showing people the sights without one you can be punished with up to 90 days in jail? Neither did Thomas Jefferson.

Los Angeles City Hall. Mint Chip Designs. Used under Pixabay license. https://pixabay.com/photos/city-hall-mayor-architecture-blue-749382/ 

No matter how many changes there have been, and there have been a lot, the foundation of the United States of America has remained largely in place since the beginning. There are three branches of government, each with duties to uphold and things that they are specifically not allowed to do. Principles like popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, federalism, checks and balances, republicanism, and individual rights continue to be the scaffolding on which the government machine operates.

So, this is the government we have. We tacitly agree to it when we live here and we don’t overthrow it. We agree to it every time we pay taxes and use the services and opportunities that are paid for with those taxes. We even agree to it when we change some things but not others. It is certainly not perfect–few would argue that it is, but it belongs to the people of the United States.

Because this is the government that we have ( the government that we are paying for), it is a good idea to do what we can to make it as good as it can possibly be. Continuous improvement, if you will. As citizens there are some things that we can do to engage with and improve the government. We can vote for candidates who will do the best job possible running the government. We can vote directly for some (and in some places many) referendums that make our communities operate better. We can give government officials feedback on proposed legislation or regulations. We can run for office. So many options.

Firefighter in fire. Catherine Hibbard, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Used under CC0 license. https://pixnio.com/events-happenings/firefighter-in-fire 

Government officials have even more ways to engage. Public administrators–bureaucrats–the roughly 18 million unelected people who work for the governments in the U.S. shoulder special responsibilities for maintaining and improving how our government operates. As students of public administration you can start to learn how to do it.  After all, depending on who is counting, between 10 and 15% of American workers  work for a government entity. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to improve some facets of government some day.

Beach volunteers count eggs with the counter in her hand. Bonnie Strawser, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In the public domain. https://pixnio.com/events-happenings/beach-volunteer-counts-eggs-with-the-counter-in-her-hand 

So, we have this government. We didn’t make it, we inherited it. We pay for it. It is ours, so how can we make it better–more effective, more efficient, more responsive to its citizenry? Let's talk about it.

Sewer workers. Beautiful-moments. Used under Pixabay license. https://pixabay.com/photos/construction-workers-manhole-repair-2753799/