The accountability function in the Brazilian constitutional order
Accountability; democracy; public administration; Public Policy on Water Resources.
The new social arrangements, characteristic of modern and globalized societies, demand the improvement of democratic mechanisms. Among the possible ways to achieve this improvement, accountability is noteworthy. A concept of complex nature and difficult translation, it gradually gained space in the discussions related to the public administration, notably with regard to efficiency gains. Thus, in order to contribute to the elucidation of the concept of accountability, as well as to highlight some of the obstacles that impede its effectiveness, this research was prepared. Starting from the investigation of the minimum elements that compose the concept of accountability and the repercussions on democracy. We will also discuss the way in which it has been incorporated into Brazilian law and some of the obstacles that from the legal point of view impede the development of full accountability, exemplified by the Public Policy on Water Resources.