Definition and Content of Administrative Services

The article deals with theoretical and practical problem of interpretation and understanding of the definition “administrative services.” The views of scholars regarding “administrative services” have been analyzed. Comparative analysis regarding existing approaches to the definition of such notion has been done. Its features have been defined. It has been found out that there is no single approach to the notion “administrative service.” There are common and distinctive features which leads to complication in understanding of this notion in theory, practice and real life.

The article analyzes a general notion “service,” pays attention to the importance of quality of administrative services as well as doctrine of “serving” (“provision of services”). It has been concluded that administrative services have to depict the concept of “serving” of the state to citizens, to ensure the main task of the state regarding exercise of the citizens’ rights and freedoms and as a result definition “administrative services” should show it at legislative level.

It has been proved that the definition “administrative service” in the Law of Ukraine ‘On Administrative Services’ needs to be improved and specified. Besides, the definition of administrative service enshrined in the Draft Concept on Reforming Public Administration in Ukraine has been analyzed. It has been concluded that this definition is hard to name perfect and that it should be enshrined in legislation during the reform process because this definition is presented in publicistic style and facilitates an ambiguous understanding in practice.

It has been established that European countries use the term “public service.” Approaches to the definition of the content of such notion in some European countries like Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, France where the rights and freedoms of citizens are ensured at the highest level have been researched into.

Following the research and foreign experience it has been proposed to improve the notion “administrative services” and include it to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Administrative Services.’