Administrative Ordinances and the Principle of Legality: Autonomy and Control of Public Managers

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between administrative ordinances and the principle of legality, emphasizing how these normative instruments reflect both the autonomy and the control over the actions of public managers. Ordinances are important management tools used to regulate internal procedures, delegate functions, and ensure the efficient implementation of public policies. However, their drafting and application must strictly observe the principle of legality, which imposes limits on administrative actions, ensuring that every decision made by the manager is grounded in law. This investigation, based on a qualitative and descriptive approach, relies on bibliographic review and documentary analysis, seeking to understand how the autonomy granted to public managers can coexist with the need for control and administrative transparency. It is concluded that compliance with the principle of legality is essential for the legitimacy of ordinances and for strengthening democratic public management, ensuring a balance between decision-making freedom and institutional responsibility.