public service

(noun)

A service, usually provided by the government, for the general public or its specific section.

Related Terms

Examples of public service in the following topics:

  • Providing Public Services

    • In modern developed nations, the term "public services" includes sectors, such as electricity, fire services, gas, law enforcement, military, environmental protection, public housing, public transportation, etc.
    • In modern, developed nations, the term "public services" includes sectors, such as electricity, fire services, gas, law enforcement, military, environmental protection, public housing, public transportation, etc.
    • A public service may sometimes have the characteristics of a public good.
    • However, most public services are merit goods, which are services that may be under provided by the market.
    • Many public services, especially electricity, gas, and public transport were products of this era.

  • [PF content: The Armed Services]

  • The Impact of Court Decisions

    • Privatization is government outsourcing of services or functions to private firms.
    • These services often include, revenue collection, law enforcement and prison management.
    • Opponents of certain privatizations believe that certain public goods and services should remain primarily in the hands of government in order to ensure that everyone in society has access to them.
    • There is a positive externality when the government provides society at large with public goods and services such as defense and disease control.
    • Likewise, private goods and services should remain in the hands of the private sector.

  • Service to Constituents

    • A major role for members of Congress is providing services to constituents.
    • A major role for members of Congress is providing services to constituents.
    • Providing services helps members of Congress win votes and elections and can make a difference in close races.
    • re-election, these are lawmakers who "never met a voter they did not like" and provide excellent constituent services
    • good public policy, legislators who burnish a reputation for policy expertise and leadership

  • Introduction to the Four Functions of Governmen

    • One is tempted to tidy things up and conclude that public-involuntary associations are bad too.
    • Before jumping to rash conclusions, however, let us think briefly about four functions or services provided by government:

  • Termination

    • Bureaucratic reform includes the history of civil service reform and efforts to curb or eliminate excessive bureaucratic red tape.
    • A civil servant is a person in the public sector employed for a government department or agency.
    • Civil service reform is a deliberate action to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, professionalism, representation and democratic character of a bureaucracy, with a view to promoting better delivery of public goods and services, with increased accountability.
    • To enforce the merit system and the judicial system, the law also created the United States Civil Service Commission.
    • These information policies were intended to reduce the total amount of paperwork handled by the United States government and the general public.

  • Foundations of the Welfare State

    • The welfare system in the United States was created on the grounds that the market cannot provide goods and services universally.
    • In 2002, total U.S. social welfare expenditure constitutes roughly 35% of GDP, with purely public expenditure constituting 21%, publicly supported but privately provided welfare services constituting 10% of GDP and purely private services constituting 4% of GDP.
    • The ideal Social-Democratic welfare state is based on the principle of universalism granting access to benefits and services based on citizenship.
    • Income redistribution, through programs such as the Earned income tax credit (EITC), has been defended on the grounds that the market cannot provide goods and services universally, while interventions going beyond transfers are justified by the presence of imperfect information, imperfect competition, incomplete markets, externalities, and the presence of public goods.
    • In 2002, total U.S. social welfare expenditure constitutes roughly 35% of GDP, with purely public expenditure constituting 21%, publicly supported but privately provided welfare services constituting 10% of GDP and purely private services constituting 4% of GDP.

  • The Representation Function

    • A major role for members of Congress is providing services to constituents.
    • Providing services helps members of Congress win votes because elections can make a difference in close races.
    • First, is if they are generally motivated by reelection: these are lawmakers who never met a voter they did not like and provide excellent constituent services.
    • Second, is if they have good public policy: these are legislators who burnish a reputation for policy expertise and leadership.

  • Bureaucratic Reform

    • The five important civil service reforms were the two Tenure of Office Acts of 1820 and 1867, the Pendleton Act of 1883, the Hatch Acts (1939 and 1940), and the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978.
    • In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson, alarmed that Federalists dominated the civil service and the army, identified the party affiliation of office holders, and systematically appointed Republicans.
    • The Civil Service Reform Act (the Pendleton Act) is an 1883 federal law that established the United States Civil Service Commission.
    • One result of this reform was more expertise and less politics among members of the civil service.
    • Describe the key moments in the history of bureaucratic reform, including the Tenure of Office Acts, the Pendleton Act, the Hatch Acts, and the Civil Service Reform Acts.

  • Making Policy

    • For instance, the Interior Department includes the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S.
    • Postal Service and Amtrak (the national rail passenger system) are government corporations.
    • They charge fees for services too far-reaching or too unprofitable for private corporations to handle.
    • To help them make ends meet, Congress may give government corporations a legal monopoly over given services, provide subsidies, or both.