Public service

A public service is a service which is provided by a government to people living within its jurisdiction, either directly or by financing provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income. Even where public services are neither publicly provided nor publicly financed, for social and political reasons they are usually subject to regulation going beyond that applying to most economic sectors. Public service is also a course that can be studied at a college and/or university. Examples of public services include emergency services, law enforcement, military and others. All of the Union's Uniformed Services are considered to be public service, and qualify for the mandatory service requirement.