Which author advocates separation of politics and administration and a professional bureaucracy?

• A. Barry Goldwater - Speech Against Civil Rights Act (1964)
• B. Alexis de Tocqueville - Democracy in America
• C. Lyndon B. Johnson - Great Society Speech (1964)
• D. Woodrow Wilson - Study of Public Administration (1887)

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is the separation of political decision-making from the management of government, with a professional, neutral bureaucracy carrying out the work. Woodrow Wilson argues for this clear split: political leaders set policy and steer the direction of government, while trained administrators implement those policies, applying expertise and following established procedures without being swayed by changing political pressures. This view envisions a merit-based, professional civil service that remains insulated enough to be neutral and efficient, ensuring policies are carried out consistently and effectively.

Other figures touched on different aspects of governance. Tocqueville wrote about democracy and society—important themes, but not the specific claim that administration should be a separate, professional sphere. Goldwater’s speech centers on limited government and civil rights debates, not a treatise on administrative organization. Johnson’s Great Society speeches advocate expanding government programs to address social issues, rather than detailing how administration should be structured as a profession.