public service
Government-provided civic functions
Public service is work performed for the benefit of the community rather than for private profit.
Government employment is the primary example: She spent her career in public service.
The term extends to any contribution to civic welfare—charitable work, volunteering, or broadcasting that serves public interest rather than commercial aims.
A public service announcement delivers information meant to benefit society.
Rigid administrative system
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- policyAdopted principle of action
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- governanceHow authority is exercised
regulation · diplomacy · council · parliament · senate · mayor · governor · representative
Voluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- outreachProactive community assistance
pro bono · fundraising · NGO · foundation · relief work · social enterprise · community organization · grassroots
Obligation owed to community
- citizenshipStatus as state member
- civic responsibilityObligations to one's community
- voter registrationSigning up for elections
- jury dutyRequired courtroom participation
town hall · civil society · civic engagement · democratic participation · civic education · volunteerism · AmeriCorps · Peace Corps
Provisioned H2O delivery system
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- telecommunicationsRemote signal transmission technology
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
streetlights · sewage · waste management · parks department · fire department · ambulance · garbage collection
Public financial protection programs
- food stampsSubsidized grocery purchasing vouchers
- unemployment benefitsState aid for jobless workers
- safety netProtection against failure
- poverty reliefEfforts to reduce destitution
social work · means-tested · entitlements · welfare state · disability benefits · social insurance · universal healthcare · pension
Non-profit educational broadcaster
- BBCBritish public broadcaster
- NPRNonprofit American broadcaster
- educational programmingMedia designed to teach
- PSAFree civic advertisement
non-commercial · listener-supported · broadcast license · documentary · emergency broadcast · community radio
bureaucracy
Rigid administrative system
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- policyAdopted principle of action
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
governance · regulation · diplomacy · council · parliament · senate · mayor · governor · representative · senator
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
- advocacyPleading for a cause
outreach · pro bono · fundraising · NGO · foundation · relief work · social enterprise · community organization · grassroots · mission-driven
civic duty
Obligation owed to community
- citizenshipStatus as state member
- civic responsibilityObligations to one's community
- voter registrationSigning up for elections
jury duty · town hall · civil society · civic engagement · democratic participation · civic education · volunteerism · AmeriCorps · Peace Corps
water supply
Provisioned H2O delivery system
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
- telecommunicationsRemote signal transmission technology
infrastructure · streetlights · sewage · waste management · parks department · fire department · ambulance · garbage collection
social security
Public financial protection programs
- food stampsSubsidized grocery purchasing vouchers
- unemployment benefitsState aid for jobless workers
- safety netProtection against failure
poverty relief · social work · means-tested · entitlements · welfare state · disability benefits · social insurance · universal healthcare · pension
PBS
Non-profit educational broadcaster
- BBCBritish public broadcaster
- NPRNonprofit American broadcaster
- educational programmingMedia designed to teach
PSA · non-commercial · listener-supported · broadcast license · documentary · emergency broadcast · community radio
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- local pridehometown pride, civic pride, regional pride, community roots, state pride
- Pulitzersfiction, biography, poetry prize, drama, breaking news
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, civil servants
- civic dutyjury duty, voting, tax paying, voter registration, civic engagement
public serviceprivate enterprise
Individually owned business operation
private sector · commercial enterprise · free enterprise · capitalism · entrepreneurship
public serviceself-interest
Concern for personal advantage
profiteering · self-serving · greed · careerism · rent-seeking
public, serve, service, publish, serving, servant, served, publication, server