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The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada is a concise primer on the inner workings of government in Canada. This go-to resource is a useful reference guide for students and scholars, for new and lower-ranking public servants, or for anyone who wants to know more about how government really works.
List of contents
List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgements
Purpose of The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada 1 REVIEW OF CORE CONCEPTS
What Is a Public Servant?
Core Principles of Canadian Government
The Division of Power
The Main Institutions of Government
Chapter Takeaways
2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAIN
Government as an Organization
Threats to the Public Service Bargain
Guiding Principles for Public Servants
Chapter Takeaways
3 THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC POLICY
What Is Public Policy?
The Public Policy Cycle
Public Policy Lenses
Chapter Takeaways
4 THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Accountability
Centralization of Power
Public Administration Is Political
The Merit Principle
The Structure and Machinery of Government
Chapter Takeaways
5 THE ART OF NAVIGATING LIFE IN GOVERNMENT
Political Acumen
Knowledge of Power
Situational Awareness
Soft Skills
Ethics of Public Service
Chapter Takeaways
6 ROLES AND COMPETENCIES OF A PUBLIC SERVANT
Roles and Occupations in the Public Service
Building Competencies
Relational and Experiential Learning
Chapter Takeaways
7 ACHIEVING YOUR CAREER GOALS
Finding Purpose in a Public Service Career
Finding Balance in a Public Service Career
Finding Community in a Public Service Career
Chapter Takeaways
Glossary of Terms
References
About the Authors
Index
About the author
Alex Marland is Professor of Political Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Summary
The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada is a concise primer on the inner workings of government in Canada. This go-to resource is a useful reference guide for students and scholars, for new and lower-ranking public servants, or for anyone who wants to know more about how government really works.
