 |
|
||||
Home > Government and Public Administration 
  |
Government and Public Administration
This Career Cluster encompasses careers involved in
| Planning and performing government functions at the local, state and federal levels, including governance, national security, foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, and regulations.(1) |
Career Pathways
Each Career Cluster has distinct Career Pathways, which are like work sub-areas.
In addition, each Career Pathway has a sample Plan of Study that details the courses a student might take, both during and after high school, to work in that sub-area.
This Career Cluster has the following Career Pathways:
Governance
People who work in the Governance pathway include the officials elected or appointed to government positions responsible for making and executing public policy. This pathway includes the President and members of Congress, governors and state legislators, and local elected officials such as councilpersons or commissioners. Also included are the staff members that support them. Careers in this pathway often require working with constituents or interest groups with conflicting goals. Leadership, consensus building and conflict resolution are important skills for success.
National Security
Maintaining a strong national security encompasses such diverse activities as running a hospital, commanding a tank, programming computers, operating a nuclear reactor, or repairing and maintaining a helicopter. The military provides training and work experience in these fields and many others for more than 2.5 million people who serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, their Reserve components, and the Air and Army National Guard.
Foreign Service
People who work in the Foreign Service pathway serve in embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions and in Washington, D.C. Job responsibilities range from day-to-day operations of a U.S. embassy to analyzing political and economic events or helping American citizens abroad.
Planning
People who work in the Planning pathway develop long- and short-term land use plans to provide for growth and revitalization of urban, suburban and rural communities, while helping local officials make decisions concerning social, economic and environmental issues. Planners promote the best use of a community's land and resources for residential, commercial, institutional and recreational purposes.
Revenue and Taxation
People who work in the Revenue and Taxation pathway ensure that governments obtain revenues from businesses and citizens by collecting tax dollars, reviewing tax returns, conducting audits, monitoring taxes payable and collecting overdue tax dollars.
Regulation
People who work in the Regulation pathway will typically possess a body of technical knowledge about an industry, the environment or technology. This - coupled with a knowledge of related laws, rules and regulatory systems - permit regulators to protect our health, safety and environment as well as ensure the integrity of our financial, transportation and public utility industries. The work may include physical inspections, audits, investigations and the reports, citations, hearings and courtroom trials required to enforce a myriad of regulatory requirements.
Public Management and Administration
Government agencies and public corporations and trusts have specific and rigorous standards for the stewardship of public resources. Public management careers will require technical skills related to budgeting, personnel management, procurement or other activities, and specific knowledge of the regulations and other policies that govern public management.
Source(1): National Career Clusters™ site (original text and PDF's).
