This book investigates the fundamental tension between maintaining efficient governmental administration and upholding the democratic principles required by a representative society. Frederick C. Mosher, a prominent scholar in the field of public administration, utilizes historical analysis and institutional review to examine how personnel management systems evolve within democratic frameworks. He argues that the professionalization of the public service must be balanced against the necessity of political accountability and public oversight.

Experts in public administration frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the evolution of the American civil service. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the structural challenges inherent in modern government bureaucracy.