The Structure and Diversification of Public Administration Bodies

Defining Public Administration and Territorial Levels

Public administration is a body subordinate to the executive branch, designed to carry out political projects. The administration is composed of several levels at the territorial level:

• Administration of the Autonomous Communities (county councils, island councils, town councils, provincial councils).
• Local administration (municipalities).
• General Administration of the State.

From an organizational point of view, the administration is highly diversified. This diversification consists of four main areas:

1. Territorial Level Management

The administration of the territory's government is a state function that holds powers relating to the territory, though these functions are subordinate to the State Administration.

2. Bodies, Powers, and Actors

In terms of administrative bodies, we observe a significant increase in the number of organs, particularly ministries. Ministries are the bodies that articulate the highest level of state organization, sorting sectors within the administration. As the number of state functions expands, the number of these organs increases.

Autonomous Bodies and Special Status

More bodies were created, including *autonomous bodies*, which are constituted as entities of public law. These agencies are governed by administrative law but possess a special status. The **LOFAGE** (Law of Organization and Operation of the General Administration of State) introduced a new body with a much broader management scope than traditional structures.

Public Companies and Joint Ventures

Then there are **public companies**, which are entities of private law. Companies can be private or mixed; the joint venture model is widespread, especially following privatization.

The Role of Agencies (U.S. Model)

Other agencies, a type of organ incorporated from the U.S. model, are public entities that also have a set of goals and governmental power (*autonomy*). They differ from autonomous bodies because:

• They are allocated for generic purposes.
• They operate under a *program contract* that includes a set of comprehensive goals to meet within a specified period.
• Agencies can support themselves financially.

We also witness a diversification among the actors, including a proliferation of parties whose functions are not strictly executive.

3. Diversification of Functions

Functions have diversified significantly. For example, regarding conflict, previously there was only the possibility of war or peace; now there are *aid missions* and similar tasks. This leads to an increase in the number of instruments required for all these new tasks.

4. Action Instruments

Administrative action was traditionally limited to the implementation or development of rules. Now, it also involves taking certain decisions and ordering development.