What does Good Government look like?

In 2024, with an important federal election around the corner, civil servants face a growing crisis: trust in government has collapsed. People believe they aren’t getting the government that they pay for. They believe the government they are getting to be ineffectual and not responsive to their needs. Regardless of the outcome of future elections, civil servants are facing enormous, looming generational challenges without the support of the public.

If we seek to rebuild trust in government, we must show people what good government looks like, and how effective, accountable civil servants are vitally important to the process of building a trustworthy government at the local, state and federal levels.

For the more than 1,000 fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration, the answer to the question of “What does good government look like?” becomes clear in the example. Our fellows have broad experience in agencies both large and small. They’ve led large cities and small towns; they’ve managed organizations that range in size from a dozen to hundreds of thousands.

The Academy’s fellows and staff believe it’s important to demonstrate what our hardworking civil servants do for the American people every day. To show how they connect with the people they serve and use those connections to build stronger programs. To show how those relationships they build contribute to creating the good, effective government that hardworking taxpayers deserve.

Prior to Election Day, we’re sharing our Fellows' perspectives through videos, podcasts, and a variety of papers, studies, and informational fact sheets that we believe can cut through the noise and help people see the value of good, effective government. To us, the value of an honest, trustworthy, and accountable government is clear.

We hope you’ll take some time to watch and listen to some of these stories and share them with your friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans! Good government is achievable, and we can start the process of rebuilding trust and attaining the government we deserve right now. The first step is seeing good government in action. What does good government look like? Follow us to find out.

Academy Fellow and USDA's Chief Scientist Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young on making nutrition a priority

Election 2024 Podcasts

One-sheets and Additional Information

Standing Panel Papers and Policy Briefs:

The Standing Panel on Social Equity in Governance

State and Local Government Actions to Advance Social Equity

The Business Case for Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Public Sector

The Standing Panel on International Affairs

A Strategy of Place-Specific Data, Governance, and Financing: For a Climate Resilient Nation

The Standing Panel on Intergovernmental Systems

Intergovernmental Best Practices for Societal Problem-Solving and Opportunity Advancement

OP-ED: How the next administration can make government more effective, restore trust

No matter who wins the next election, the success of their agenda will depend on delivering an effective federal government. But there are plenty of management challenges that can get in the way if the next leaders don’t focus intently on overcoming them. The good news is both campaigns have appointed leaders to plan for and execute a smooth transition. A management improvement plan and an effective strategy for communicating results have got to be on their agenda.

What should that agenda look like? Of the President’s Management Agenda pillars, what should change and what should stay the same?

Read more from this op-ed from Terry Gerton and Srikant Sastri at Federal News Network

The 2024 Student Grand Challenge Memo Competition Winners

Protect and Advance Democracy

Rebecca Rutland Soulen, a MPA candidate from Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs, won this category for her memo, "By the People, For the People: Celebrating 250 Years through renewed Emphasis on Public Governance."

Read the Memo

Strengthen Social and Economic Development

Scott Eckstein, an EMPSA candidate at Texas A&M University, won this category for his memo, "Building a Resilient Community by Utilizing Micro-hydroelectric Turbines on Municipal Water Utility Systems."

Read the Memo

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Megan Di Giovanni, a master's in Public Affairs student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, won this category for her memo, "Classifying Extreme Heat as a Natural Disaster."

Read the Memo

Managing Technological Challenges

Hyun Kwan Jung, a MPA candidate at Arizona State University, won this category for his memo, "Make Government AI Ready."

Read the Memo