Legal Definitions - civil service

The term civil service refers to two related concepts:

• First, it describes the administrative branches of government that are responsible for implementing public policy and delivering services to citizens. These are the non-military, non-political parts of government.

• Second, it refers to the collective body of individuals employed by these administrative branches. These employees, often called civil servants, are typically hired based on merit and are expected to perform their duties impartially, regardless of changes in political leadership.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of civil service:

• Imagine the Department of Parks and Recreation in a large city. This department is an administrative branch of the municipal government responsible for maintaining public parks, organizing community sports leagues, and managing recreational facilities. The entire structure of this department, along with all its employees—from park rangers and maintenance crews to program coordinators and administrative staff—collectively represents a component of the civil service, dedicated to providing public recreational services.

• Consider a tax auditor working for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This individual is a civil servant. They are employed by a federal government agency (the IRS), which is an administrative branch tasked with collecting taxes and enforcing tax laws. The auditor's role in reviewing financial records and ensuring compliance with tax regulations demonstrates an individual within the civil service workforce performing a specific government function.

• Think about the team of engineers and urban planners working for a state's Department of Transportation. This group of professionals forms part of the civil service. They are employed by a government agency (an administrative branch) to design, build, and maintain public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and public transit systems. Their collective work illustrates the body of people within the civil service who are crucial for the functioning and development of public services and infrastructure.