What is the definition of public administration?

The term public administration refers to implementation of policies by various levels of government and also represents a branch of political science that studies policies implemented by government. This implementation generally refers to actions consciously carried out for a specific purpose and within a proscribed framework.

The field of public administration typically covers a wide range of operations dealing with enforcement and fulfillment of public policy. These policies may be decided by vote, by committee or by a central bureaucracy. The capacity to achieve public policy goals is usually involved in the decision-making process that goes on before bills and laws get written and brought to vote.