Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Organization and Accountability of Public Administration Institutions. Institutional Organizational Law
Course Code
SZF_312
Branch of Science
Law; Other Sub-Branches of Law
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Juridical Science; Political Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Inga Kudeikina
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Kuldigas Street 9C, Riga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The course develops a structured understanding of the organisation of public administration institutions and contemporary trends in the development of administrative law. It aims to analyse how legal regulation, institutional design, the distribution of competences, and accountability mechanisms affect the quality of public administration, decision-making, and institutional behaviour within a democratic state governed by the rule of law, demonstrating how legal norms operate in political–administrative practice.
Preliminary Knowledge
Specific prerequisites are optional. Basic knowledge of public administration or legal bases is recommended for course completion.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Understands the fundamental principles of the public administration system and the legal framework governing the organisation of public administration institutions in Latvia, including the core provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the State Administration Structure Law, and the Administrative Procedure Law
Individual work and tests
Development of an analytical report • Presentation of the Paper
2.Is familiar with the legal basis of institutional competences, subordination, and delegation
3.Understands the distinction and interaction between political and administrative accountability
Individual work and tests
Participation in seminars and group work • Development of an analytical report
4.Understands how institutional design affects administrative efficiency, transparency, and the quality of decision-making
Individual work and tests
Development of an analytical report • Participation in seminars and group work • Presentation of the Paper
Skills
1.To analyse the competence and limits of action of the public administration
Individual work and tests
Participation in seminars and group work • Development of an analytical report • Presentation of the Paper • Final examination
2.Identify institutional responsibility gaps and coordination problems in the context of multi-level governance
Individual work and tests
Final examination • Presentation of the Paper • Development of an analytical report • Participation in seminars and group work
3.Understands the institutional logic of the activities of the public administration and the legal basis for the powers of officials
Individual work and tests
Participation in seminars and group work • Final examination
4.To apply the basic principles of the administrative procedure in the context of institutional analysis
Individual work and tests
Final examination
5.Reasoned assessment of reforms and institutional solutions, including through analytical frameworks (multi-flow and institutional analysis and development framework approaches)
Individual work and tests
Final examination • Development of an analytical report • Presentation of the Paper
Competences
1.To justify legally and analytically the choice of the organisation of public administrations
Individual work and tests
Development of an analytical report • Presentation of the Paper
2.To interpret the provisions in the institutional context
Individual work and tests
Presentation of the Paper • Development of an analytical report • Participation in seminars and group work
3.To critically evaluate the operation of public administration within the framework of a democratic legal state, comparing the regulatory principles with the practice of the Latvian public administration and assessing the impact of institutional capacity and professional culture on the quality of the administration
Individual work and tests
Participation in seminars and group work • Development of an analytical report • Presentation of the Paper
4.To assess institutional challenges of public administration in the context of digital transformation by analysing the impact of automation, data use and algorithmic decision-making on accountability and the rule of law
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Development of an analytical report |
20.00% from total grade
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10 points
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The independent assignment aims to develop students’ ability to independently analyse issues in public administration and administrative law, linking theoretical knowledge with practical analysis, as well as to develop the ability to formulate well-founded conclusions and strengthen academic writing skills. Students prepare an individual paper on a topic relevant to the course. The paper must include a problem statement, an analysis of the legal framework, an evaluation of different approaches, and well-substantiated conclusions. The work must be argument-based and grounded in academic literature and legal sources. The requirements for completing the assignment include independent work with study materials, analysis of legal acts, and the ability to present analysis in a structured and well-argued written form. Students are also required to review other students' work and provide reasoned, constructive feedback. The paper is developed during the course in accordance with the instructor's schedule. Detailed requirements (including length, structure, and assessment criteria) are published in the e-learning environment. The paper is assessed based on the understanding and formulation of the problem, the quality and depth of analysis and argumentation, the use of legal and academic sources, and the logic and justification of conclusions. |
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2.
Participation in seminars and group work |
20.00% from total grade
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10 points
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The purpose of the assignment is to promote students’ active engagement in the learning process, to develop skills of reasoned discussion, teamwork, and the ability to link theoretical knowledge with the practical analysis of public administration and administrative law. The assignment is implemented throughout the course during seminars and group work sessions. Students are expected to actively participate in discussions on course topics, engage in group tasks, analyse legal acts, case studies, and academic literature, and present and justify their views in a reasoned and well-structured manner. A substantial part of the course workload is completed independently, through preparation for seminars and group work activities. The requirements for completing the task include regular and active, well-argued participation in seminars and group work (student engagement, quality of argumentation, and contribution to discussion are assessed), preparation for classes (including prior reading of study materials), reasoned participation in discussions based on the legal framework and course literature, constructive collaboration in group work, as well as respectful engagement with the views of other students and adherence to the principles of academic discussion. Completion of the tasks assigned during classes is mandatory. Assessment of the assignment is based on the student’s level of participation in seminars, the quality of contributions to discussions, the ability to provide well-argued positions, and the level of engagement and contribution in group work. Successful completion requires consistent participation and active involvement throughout the course. Detailed assessment criteria and participation requirements will be published in the e-learning environment. The completion of the assignment is assessed based on the student’s active participation in seminars, the quality of contributions to discussions, the ability to present well-argued and substantiated viewpoints, as well as engagement and contribution to group work. Successful completion of the course requires regular participation and active involvement throughout the entire study period. The student is admitted to the final examination if they have attended at least 75% of lectures and seminars and have successfully completed all course requirements. Independent work and practical assignments (such as analytical tasks, case studies, presentations, and discussions) are assessed using formative assessment methods, providing students with regular feedback on their progress. The acquisition of theoretical knowledge (including short in-class tasks) is integrated into the learning process. Detailed assessment criteria and participation requirements will be published in the e-learning environment. |
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3.
Completion of the study course assessment questionnaire |
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According to the Academic Regulations I, students must complete a course assessment questionnaire at the end of the course. It is anonymous and the course manager only makes its results available in aggregate form at the beginning of the next term, so there is no way it can influence your assessment during the course. |
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Presentation of the Paper |
10.00% from total grade
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10 points
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The task aims to develop students’ ability to clearly and systematically present analytical content, to substantiate their arguments, and to engage in academic discussion. The student prepares and delivers a presentation in a seminar, presenting the main findings of their written paper. During the presentation, the student outlines the core problem, the main aspects of the analysis, and the conclusions, as well as responds to questions and participates in discussion. The requirements for completing the task include a structured and logical presentation of content, the ability to substantiate conclusions with arguments, and active participation in discussion with other students. The presentation is assessed based on: clarity and structure of the content, ability to substantiate conclusions with arguments, ability to respond to questions, and engagement in discussion. |
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2.
Final examination |
50.00% from total grade
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10 points
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The purpose of the final assessment is to evaluate students’ knowledge, understanding, and analytical skills in the areas of public administration organisation, institutional design, allocation of competences, and accountability mechanisms, as well as their ability to apply legal regulation in an analytical and well-argued manner to the analysis of political–administrative practice. The final assessment takes place at the end of the course and is organised as a written examination with a duration of 90 minutes (two academic hours). The examination consists of open-ended questions requiring analytical and structured answers. Students are expected to demonstrate understanding of the main course topics, explain key concepts, analyse institutional situations, and substantiate their conclusions with reference to legal acts, academic literature, and the approaches covered in the course. The examination is assessed based on the substantive accuracy of the answers, depth of analysis, logical coherence of arguments, understanding of the legal framework, and the ability to link theoretical knowledge with public administration practice. To pass the examination, students must demonstrate at least a satisfactory understanding of all core course topics and provide well-reasoned answers. Students are admitted to the final examination only if they have regularly attended lectures and seminars and have completed all required independent assignments and seminar tasks during the course. The examination is conducted in written form with open-ended questions at the end of the course. Detailed information on the examination structure, assessment criteria, and requirements will be published in the e-learning environment. |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture - Developments in public administration and institutional foundations
Description
Objective: To introduce students to public administration as a dynamic, multi-level institutional system whose structure and functioning are shaped by legal regulation as well as political, organisational, and historical factors. Content: 1. Public administration as an organised system Public administration as a political–administrative system; its functions, tasks, and role in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, comparing Continental European and Anglo-Saxon administrative traditions. 2. Institutional structure of public administration Types of public institutions and their place within the system: ministries, subordinate institutions, agencies, local governments; foundations of institutional hierarchy and cooperation, comparing the Latvian model with practices in Nordic and OECD countries. 3. Development of governance models in contemporary public administration Classical bureaucracy, New Public Management, and New Public Governance; hybrid institutional arrangements and their impact on the functioning, coordination, and accountability mechanisms of public administration institutions, drawing on international examples from OECD and EU Member States. 4. Centralisation, decentralisation, and coordination in public administration The logic of competence allocation; advantages and risks; impact on decision-making, coordination, and accountability in multi-level institutional systems, comparing more centralised and more decentralised governance models in Europe. 5. Public institutions as political-administrative actors Institutional behaviour in practice; institutional autonomy, capacity, and the influence of the political environment on decision-making, based on research from Latvia and international comparative studies. |
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Lecture - Developments in public administration and institutional foundations
Description
Objective: To introduce students to public administration as a dynamic, multi-level institutional system whose structure and functioning are shaped by legal regulation as well as political, organisational, and historical factors. Content: 1. Public administration as an organised system Public administration as a political–administrative system; its functions, tasks, and role in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, comparing Continental European and Anglo-Saxon administrative traditions. 2. Institutional structure of public administration Types of public institutions and their place within the system: ministries, subordinate institutions, agencies, local governments; foundations of institutional hierarchy and cooperation, comparing the Latvian model with practices in Nordic and OECD countries. 3. Development of governance models in contemporary public administration Classical bureaucracy, New Public Management, and New Public Governance; hybrid institutional arrangements and their impact on the functioning, coordination, and accountability mechanisms of public administration institutions, drawing on international examples from OECD and EU Member States. 4. Centralisation, decentralisation, and coordination in public administration The logic of competence allocation; advantages and risks; impact on decision-making, coordination, and accountability in multi-level institutional systems, comparing more centralised and more decentralised governance models in Europe. 5. Public institutions as political-administrative actors Institutional behaviour in practice; institutional autonomy, capacity, and the influence of the political environment on decision-making, based on research from Latvia and international comparative studies. |
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Seminar - Institutional structure of public administration in practice (Latvia)
Description
Objective To strengthen students’ understanding of the institutional structure of public administration in Latvia, the allocation of competences, and the practical relationships between public institutions. Content The institutional system of public administration in Latvia in practice; The roles and functions of ministries, subordinate institutions, agencies, and local governments; Institutional hierarchy, subordination, and foundations of cooperation; The logic of competence allocation and potential overlaps. Format Presentations by 2–3 students; A joint analytical task conducted during the seminar; A collective discussion. |
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Seminar - Institutional structure of public administration in practice (Latvia)
Description
Objective To strengthen students’ understanding of the institutional structure of public administration in Latvia, the allocation of competences, and the practical relationships between public institutions. Content The institutional system of public administration in Latvia in practice; The roles and functions of ministries, subordinate institutions, agencies, and local governments; Institutional hierarchy, subordination, and foundations of cooperation; The logic of competence allocation and potential overlaps. Format Presentations by 2–3 students; A joint analytical task conducted during the seminar; A collective discussion. |
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Lecture
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2
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Lecture - legal framework for institutional organisation
Description
Objective To provide students with an understanding of the legal framework governing the organisation of public administration institutions, explaining how the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the State Administration Structure Law define institutional competences, subordination, and limits of action in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Content 1. Principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia in the Organisation of Public Administration Article 58 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and its role in the executive branch; the position of the government and public institutions within the separation of powers; fundamental principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. 2. The State Administration Structure Law as an Institutional Framework The purpose and structure of the State Administration Structure Law; its role in organising the public administration system and regulating relationships between public institutions. 3. Competence, Subordination and Delegation The concept of institutional competence; types of subordination and their legal implications; the institution of delegation and the allocation of responsibility between the state and the delegated entity. 4. Limits of Institutional Action and the Principle of Legality Discretion and limits of action of public institutions; the principles of legality, proportionality and good administration; institutional action within the framework of legal regulation. |
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Location
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Lecture - legal framework for institutional organisation
Description
Objective To provide students with an understanding of the legal framework governing the organisation of public administration institutions, explaining how the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the State Administration Structure Law define institutional competences, subordination, and limits of action in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Content 1. Principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia in the Organisation of Public Administration Article 58 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and its role in the executive branch; the position of the government and public institutions within the separation of powers; fundamental principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. 2. The State Administration Structure Law as an Institutional Framework The purpose and structure of the State Administration Structure Law; its role in organising the public administration system and regulating relationships between public institutions. 3. Competence, Subordination and Delegation The concept of institutional competence; types of subordination and their legal implications; the institution of delegation and the allocation of responsibility between the state and the delegated entity. 4. Limits of Institutional Action and the Principle of Legality Discretion and limits of action of public institutions; the principles of legality, proportionality and good administration; institutional action within the framework of legal regulation. |
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Seminar - competence and subordination of institutions in public administration
Description
Objective To strengthen students’ understanding of the competences, subordination, and limits of action of public administration institutions by analysing the practical application of the State Administration Structure Law and the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. Content
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Seminar - competence and subordination of institutions in public administration
Description
Objective To strengthen students’ understanding of the competences, subordination, and limits of action of public administration institutions by analysing the practical application of the State Administration Structure Law and the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia. Content
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Lecture - Administrative process as institutional mechanism
Description
Objective To deepen students’ understanding of the administrative process as a core mechanism of institutional and organisational activity in public administration, by analysing how legally regulated procedures influence decision-making, institutional behaviour, and the overall quality of governance in practice. Content 1. The Administrative Process as a Form of Organisational Activity The administrative process as a legally defined and institutionally applied mode of operation that structures everyday work, priorities, and the pace of decision-making within public administration bodies. 2. Decision-Making within Public Administration Bodies Decision-making in the administrative process as an interaction between legal requirements and organisational factors, shaping both the substance and quality of administrative decisions. 3. Administrative Discretion and the Duty to Act Discretion and the duty to act in the administrative process as legally established but institutionally interpreted frameworks of action, within which a balance is formed in practice between decision-making freedom and legal constraints. 4. Typical Errors in Institutional Practice The emergence of procedural and institutional errors in administrative activity, including improper use of discretion, insufficient institutional capacity, coordination failures, and the influence of organisational culture on the administrative process. |
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2
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Topics
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Lecture - Administrative process as institutional mechanism
Description
Objective To deepen students’ understanding of the administrative process as a core mechanism of institutional and organisational activity in public administration, by analysing how legally regulated procedures influence decision-making, institutional behaviour, and the overall quality of governance in practice. Content 1. The Administrative Process as a Form of Organisational Activity The administrative process as a legally defined and institutionally applied mode of operation that structures everyday work, priorities, and the pace of decision-making within public administration bodies. 2. Decision-Making within Public Administration Bodies Decision-making in the administrative process as an interaction between legal requirements and organisational factors, shaping both the substance and quality of administrative decisions. 3. Administrative Discretion and the Duty to Act Discretion and the duty to act in the administrative process as legally established but institutionally interpreted frameworks of action, within which a balance is formed in practice between decision-making freedom and legal constraints. 4. Typical Errors in Institutional Practice The emergence of procedural and institutional errors in administrative activity, including improper use of discretion, insufficient institutional capacity, coordination failures, and the influence of organisational culture on the administrative process. |
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2
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Seminar: Discretion and Typical Errors in Administrative Practice
Description
Objective To deepen understanding of the practical application of administrative procedure law by analysing the use of discretion, typical procedural errors, and the role of administrative law as an external control mechanism. Content
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2
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Seminar: Discretion and Typical Errors in Administrative Practice
Description
Objective To deepen understanding of the practical application of administrative procedure law by analysing the use of discretion, typical procedural errors, and the role of administrative law as an external control mechanism. Content
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Lecture - Responsibility, control and transparency in public administration
Description
Lecture objective To deepen students’ understanding of accountability and control mechanisms in public administration by analysing how institutional design, coordination models and organisational practice affect transparency, decision-making quality and the actual exercise of accountability in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Content 1. Political and administrative accountability Conceptual distinction between political and administrative accountability; accountability as a multi-level institutional relationship between politics, administration and society. 2. Control mechanisms in public administration Internal and external control as institutional arrangements; hierarchy, supervision, audits and reporting as instruments of governance. 3. Oversight institutions as elements of governance The Ombudsman, the State Audit Office and similar bodies as independent accountability-strengthening mechanisms; their role in ensuring transparency and public trust. 4. Accountability diffusion and shortcomings in institutional practice The dispersal of accountability in complex institutional systems; division of competences, coordination gaps, procedural fragmentation and organisational culture as factors that weaken effective accountability. |
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Lecture - Responsibility, control and transparency in public administration
Description
Lecture objective To deepen students’ understanding of accountability and control mechanisms in public administration by analysing how institutional design, coordination models and organisational practice affect transparency, decision-making quality and the actual exercise of accountability in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Content 1. Political and administrative accountability Conceptual distinction between political and administrative accountability; accountability as a multi-level institutional relationship between politics, administration and society. 2. Control mechanisms in public administration Internal and external control as institutional arrangements; hierarchy, supervision, audits and reporting as instruments of governance. 3. Oversight institutions as elements of governance The Ombudsman, the State Audit Office and similar bodies as independent accountability-strengthening mechanisms; their role in ensuring transparency and public trust. 4. Accountability diffusion and shortcomings in institutional practice The dispersal of accountability in complex institutional systems; division of competences, coordination gaps, procedural fragmentation and organisational culture as factors that weaken effective accountability. |
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Seminar - Responsibility and institutional capacity in practice
Description
Objective To deepen understanding of how political and administrative accountability is exercised in public administration by analysing how institutional design, control mechanisms and administrative capacity shape the actual implementation of accountability in practice. Content
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Seminar - Responsibility and institutional capacity in practice
Description
Objective To deepen understanding of how political and administrative accountability is exercised in public administration by analysing how institutional design, control mechanisms and administrative capacity shape the actual implementation of accountability in practice. Content
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Lecture - Civil Service, institutional capacity and behaviour
Description
Objective To deepen students’ understanding of the civil service and human resources as the core of institutional capacity in public administration, by analysing how the structure of the civil service, professional culture and motivation mechanisms influence institutional behaviour, decision-making quality and governance outcomes in practice. Content 1. The Role of the Civil Service in Public Administration The civil service as a guarantor of institutional stability and continuity; the position of the civil service within the political–administrative system. 2. Civil Servant Profiles and Institutional Behaviour Patterns of behaviour and professional identities of civil servants in public administration; relations between political leadership and administration and their impact on decision-making and institutional behaviour. 3. Professional Culture, Rotation and Motivation Organisational culture, career models, rotation, remuneration and motivation mechanisms, and their influence on institutional capacity. 4. The Impact of Human Resources on Decision Quality How human resource management, administrative capacity and professional skills affect policy preparation, implementation and the overall quality of governance in practice. |
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Lecture - Civil Service, institutional capacity and behaviour
Description
Objective To deepen students’ understanding of the civil service and human resources as the core of institutional capacity in public administration, by analysing how the structure of the civil service, professional culture and motivation mechanisms influence institutional behaviour, decision-making quality and governance outcomes in practice. Content 1. The Role of the Civil Service in Public Administration The civil service as a guarantor of institutional stability and continuity; the position of the civil service within the political–administrative system. 2. Civil Servant Profiles and Institutional Behaviour Patterns of behaviour and professional identities of civil servants in public administration; relations between political leadership and administration and their impact on decision-making and institutional behaviour. 3. Professional Culture, Rotation and Motivation Organisational culture, career models, rotation, remuneration and motivation mechanisms, and their influence on institutional capacity. 4. The Impact of Human Resources on Decision Quality How human resource management, administrative capacity and professional skills affect policy preparation, implementation and the overall quality of governance in practice. |
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Study room
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Seminar - Civil Service and institutional behaviour in practice
Description
Objective To deepen understanding of the role of the civil service and human resources in institutional capacity and decision-making quality in public administration. Content
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Seminar - Civil Service and institutional behaviour in practice
Description
Objective To deepen understanding of the role of the civil service and human resources in institutional capacity and decision-making quality in public administration. Content
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Lecture - Institutional reforms and coordination
Description
Objective To deepen students’ understanding of the logic of institutional reform in public administration by analysing how political accountability, coordination problems and institutional inertia shape the pace, coherence and outcomes of reforms in practice within a multi-level political system. Content 1. The logic of institutional reform in public administration Reforms as political–administrative processes; the relationship between reform goals and instruments and the political cycle, decision-making time constraints and accountability structures; the role of political priorities and administrative capacity in driving reforms. 2. Coordination challenges in reform implementation Horizontal and vertical coordination in a multi-level political system; fragmentation of the political system and interdependence between institutions and their impact on reform governance; the effects of coordination failures on reform coherence and outcomes. 3. Political accountability and the politics–administration tension The logic of political accountability (electoral cycles, coalition dynamics, ministerial responsibility) and its impact on the pace of institutional reform, shifting priorities and administrative continuity; tensions between political objectives and administrative implementation. 4. Institutional reform in practice: the Latvian case Public administration reform cases in Latvia as outcomes of the interaction between the political system, accountability mechanisms and institutional capacity. |
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Lecture - Institutional reforms and coordination
Description
Objective To deepen students’ understanding of the logic of institutional reform in public administration by analysing how political accountability, coordination problems and institutional inertia shape the pace, coherence and outcomes of reforms in practice within a multi-level political system. Content 1. The logic of institutional reform in public administration Reforms as political–administrative processes; the relationship between reform goals and instruments and the political cycle, decision-making time constraints and accountability structures; the role of political priorities and administrative capacity in driving reforms. 2. Coordination challenges in reform implementation Horizontal and vertical coordination in a multi-level political system; fragmentation of the political system and interdependence between institutions and their impact on reform governance; the effects of coordination failures on reform coherence and outcomes. 3. Political accountability and the politics–administration tension The logic of political accountability (electoral cycles, coalition dynamics, ministerial responsibility) and its impact on the pace of institutional reform, shifting priorities and administrative continuity; tensions between political objectives and administrative implementation. 4. Institutional reform in practice: the Latvian case Public administration reform cases in Latvia as outcomes of the interaction between the political system, accountability mechanisms and institutional capacity. |
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Seminar - Case analysis: institution or reform
Description
Objective To integrate the knowledge acquired throughout the course by analysing a public administration institution or reform as a complex political-administrative case. Content
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Seminar - Case analysis: institution or reform
Description
Objective To integrate the knowledge acquired throughout the course by analysing a public administration institution or reform as a complex political-administrative case. Content
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Exam
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
48 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Bovens, Mark (2007). Public Accountability. In: Ferlie, Ewan; Lynn, Laurence E. Jr.; Pollitt, Christopher (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Public Management, pp. 182-208. (jaunāks izdevums nav iznācis)
2.
March, James G.; Olsen, Johan P. (1989). Rediscovering Institutions: The Organizational Basis of Politics. New York: Free Press. (jaunāks izdevums nav iznācis)
3.
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