The Difference Between Civil Service and Public Service
A public servant is not someone who is actively engaged in politics. A public servant is someone who has been professionally trained in the performance of official duties and is generally a member of the civil service. The civil service is a broad category of government designed primarily to protect the interests of the public from governmental abuse. The word “public” in the institution does not refer to an individual; it refers to the responsibility and obligations of an individual as a citizen. Civil servants are persons who are employed by the government and perform duties defined by the government.
There are many examples of public servants in the United States. Examples include public health professionals such as nurses and doctors, cafeteria workers, conservationists, park rangers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, border crossing officers, Bureau of Land Management employees, and Department of Interior employees. Some government agencies are also examples of public employers, including the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Labor. The executive branch falls into this category as well.
In the role of public service, public servants can be divided into three categories: the executive branch, cabinet-level, and supervisory agents. Within each category, there are two additional tiers of servants: politicians and ministers. Politicians are the top level of public service personnel who directly interact with citizens on a daily basis. Cabinet-level officers have more indirect access to the public through various ministries. Supervisory agents are those responsible for performing the duties that ministers cannot perform because they have been appointed above other government employees.
Within each of these three general categories of public servants, there are numerous subtypes. One of the most common types of a public servants is the executive-branch servant. The executive-branch employee is employed by a government agency to act as a spokesperson for that agency. They provide information to the media, the public, and Congress on the activities of the agency. For example, an executive-branch public servant may give statements to the press about pending government legislation or action. They may also consult and lend advice to various government agencies in order to assist their directors in carrying out their responsibilities.
The next subtype of a public servant is the cabinet-level public servant. Federal government agencies are the most likely to employ cabinet-level public servants. These employees perform the same duties as executives, such as providing information to the press, working to promote intergovernmental cooperation, and assisting cabinet secretaries in carrying out their department’s responsibilities. Police officers and federal employees are other examples of cabinet-level public servants. A police officer is in a position of control and protection of citizens, while federal employees assist federal government agencies with scheduling, reporting, implementing policies, and fulfilling other functions.
The third subtype of a public servant is the supervisory agent. Supervisory agents are employed by boards, commissions, and similar organizations. Examples of these entities are the licensing boards that set the rules for pharmacies and other retail businesses, and the courts, which appoint some judges and other court members. While not all board members possess a law degree, many hold significant experience in the field and can be counted on to help make certain the organizations do what they must to carry out their duties. Similarly, the federal government employs inspectors to ensure the quality of the products it purchases.
The fourth subcategory of public servants is the non-appropriated or contractual workforce. Civil servants, such as police officers, are part of the government agencies that fall into this category. Many police officers are paid a hefty annual salary, with benefits. Highly qualified police officers can be placed in administrative positions within government agencies, or in various companies that require such a skill.
The final subcategory of public servants falls between the three major categories described above. These are professionals such as accountants, architects, and engineers. Some may be employed by state and local governments, while others are employed by private companies. Still, others are self-employed, although many will choose to work in the public sector. The majority of professionals classified under this category have some skill in their area of employment, although many have at least a bachelor’s degree. Those in the accounting and architecture fields are especially highly qualified in their fields, while highly qualified public servants in the public health field are also highly qualified.
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