ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the services that government provides and how those services affect citizens on a daily basis. It provides a working definition of public administration and discusses key concepts that are essential to the field. To understand the impact that government spending has on the economy of the United States, it is sometimes helpful to use economic terms. One often-used term for gauging the nation’s economy is the gross domestic product. The government not only establishes the ordinances, laws, and regulation but also serves as a major provider of services such as public education. Government support for the not-for-profit sector is one example of the public sector promoting the common good. The not-for-profit sector, or non-profit sector, is generally viewed as the charitable arm of American society. The special tax status developed by the Internal Revenue Service for public charities—known as 501—exempts non-profit organizations from paying federal income tax.
