civil servant

State agency worker

A civil servant is a government employee, typically in an administrative rather than military or political role.

Civil servants staff bureaucracies—processing applications, enforcing regulations, managing public services.

The term emphasizes that these workers serve the public: She spent thirty years as a civil servant in the Department of Agriculture.

bureaucracy

red tape

Bureaucratic obstacles to action

paperworkAdministrative written tasks
officialdomCollective administrative authorities
departmentalOf a unit within organization

governmental · institutional · hierarchy · secretariat · formality · filing · mandate · protocol · procedure · clerical

service

public interest

Societal welfare and benefit

welfareComfort and prosperity
stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
public sectorState-controlled economic portion

government employee · municipal · state · federal · commonwealth · functionary · official

roles

clerk

Office record-keeper

registrarKeeper of official records
tax collectorOne who collects levies
auditorFinancial records examiner

inspector · diplomat · consul · ambassador · analyst · policy advisor · archivist · librarian · planner · surveyor

ethics

impartial

Showing no preference

nonpartisanNot aligned politically
neutralNot favoring any side
apoliticalLacking political interest

objective · disinterested · incorruptible · accountable · transparent · integrity · probity · discretion · confidentiality · oath

administration

policy

Adopted principle of action

governanceHow authority is exercised
regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
implementationPutting plans into effect

oversight · coordination · planning · budgeting · reporting · record-keeping · public administration · procurement · licensing · permitting

Categories

occupationsdoctor, teacher, baker, lawyer, nurse
bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, administration
governmentgovernment, ministries, legislature, judiciary, executive branch
government jobsfederal jobs, government jobs, bureaucrat, officials, congressman
government workersfederal workers, bureaucrat, federal employees, state employees, municipal workers
job securityjob security, job protection, job retention, permanent position, job stability

Opposites

employment sector

civil servantentrepreneur

One who starts businesses

freelancer · industrialist · merchant · businessman · business owner

political accountability

civil servantelected official

Voter-chosen public servant

elected representative · politician · congressman · member of parliament · senator

institutional relationship

civil servantprivate citizen

ordinary citizen · taxpayer · civilian · member of the public · constituent

Family

civil, servant, civic, civilian, civilized, civilization, uncivilized, uncivil, civility

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G