What is Administrative Discretion?

    As early as the French revolution, people have argued that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power. This is true for street-level bureaucrats, many of whom wield immense power and have considerable discretion in how they perform their duties. First, clearly and concisely explain administrative discretion, as well as its positives and negatives. Second, explain how administrative discretion exemplifies the tensions between bureaucratic ethos and democratic ethos. Third, describe two approaches that have potential to help ensure the appropriate exercise of administrative discretion for street-level bureaucrats. In your response, be sure to support your arguments and make connections to multiple sections of the course.