A reference to a group of civilian employees who take care of the government's primary business: Some examples of the use of the term civil service include: a civil service employee, civil service exams, the civil service system, civil service law, and civil service retirement.

Civil service careers, or mission-critical careers, include:
• Foreign Affairs
• Personnel Management
• Management Analysis
• General Accounting and Administration
• Budget Administration
• Legal Counsel
• Passport-Visa Services
• Public Affairs
• Contract Procurement
• Information Technology Management

The civil service careers listed above are shown and described
in more detail at this U.S. Department of State site.

That branch of the federal government which takes care of its basic business: The civil service is not involved with military, legislative, or judicial areas of the ruling body; however, it works to apply the laws and regulations that exist in the system for controlling the country.

Employees of the civil services are civilians who are not subject to political appointment or removal; and normally, they are hired and promoted primarily on the basis of competitive examinations.