Political Accountability:

The case in which the Congress, or the legislature, holds other civil servant accountable is part of political accountability. Mechanisms of political accountability are vested in constitution, either written or unwritten, or statute and implemented in three dimensions: election, legislature and ministerial.

Election is the most direct way for accountability, and is a way for enforcement. An election gives a chance for the proposed cabinet and proposed legislators to run for campaigns and attend forums so as to explain and inform their purposes and goals if they are elected. On the other hand, it is also a sanction for those who misbehaved or failed to act as a representative for one’s field in the past tenure – by giving the vote to someone else.

Constitution or equivalents also empowers legislature to hold civil servants accountable. Firstly, legislature may invite public servants for inquiry sessions to explain explicitly planning or policies made, or to unfold any misappropriates. Further, legislature can organize an investigation committee for particular issue by inviting outsiders as committees. Abovementioned are mechanisms aiming to compel civil servants in to dialogue and hence, gives answerability. It can introduce motions for impeachment and no-confidence in case for misbehavior or misconduct.

Ministers, as conceived as the top of the hierarchy of the ministry, are supposed to hold accountable for every affairs in the ministry; as all civil servant within are merely cogs and wigs and operate in the light of the ministers’ vision. However, ministerial accountability is vague in parliamentary system. The parliamentary have to constitute the cabinet to executive the government, yet, holding the executives accountable as abovementioned.

११ & B

01-25-08

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Orange Vinagrette

10 Strips of shallots
1/2 an orange
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt

Cut the shallots into small pieces. Squeeze the juice from
the orange and cut three strips of zest from the rind.Chop
the zest finely. Combine the juice, balsamic vinegar, oil
and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Stir in the shallots and the zest.

7 Mile Wall Down

Image from the NY Times

The Birds

Rearview

Hello 2008