Chiefs of Staff to Presidents and Prime Ministers: A Comparative Perspective

Abstract

All chief executives in modern democracies require that certain functions be performed; some of these functions are inherent in the nature executive power itself; some are necessitated by the expanding role of government; and some have to deal with the increasing complexity of public policy and a 24/7 news cycle. For the past several decades, chief executives have increased the size of their personal staffs to the point that the staffs themselves constitute bureaucracies. In order to manage these larger staffs, presidents and prime ministers have turned to the office of chief of staff. This article examines the development and functions of the chief of staff office in Australia and the United States. Despite differences in constitutions, institutions, and politics, we find striking similarities in the offices and functions.