Civil Service Exam quiz 78 Questions with Verified Answers
Civil Service System - CORRECT ANSWER Employment system used by democratic governments to
... [Show More] minimize political tinkering with the administrative process
Employees are - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Attached to positions
2. Hired by merit
3. Protected from political interference and dismissal
Position classification - CORRECT ANSWER Each position is identified in terms of the special knowledge the job requires, its level of difficulty, and the responsibilities the come with it.
Staffing - CORRECT ANSWER Recruiting and retaining employees
Compensation - CORRECT ANSWER pay salary, fringe benefits
Positions are defined according to occupation, degree of difficulty and responsibility - CORRECT ANSWER
General Schedule - CORRECT ANSWER Governs most employees include 15 grades
Each grade has ten steps - CORRECT ANSWER 1-4 : 52 weeks
4-8 104 weeks
7-10 156 weeks
General schedule category of work - CORRECT ANSWER Professional
Administrative
Technical
Clerical
Other
9 Factors to classify a position - CORRECT ANSWER Knowlege
Supervisory control
Guidelines
Complexity
The scope and effect of the work
The personal contracts
The purposes or reasons for personal contract
Physical demands of the job
The nature of the work environment, job hazards and safety precautions required to perform the work safely
Written descriptions rarely match actual jobs - CORRECT ANSWER System creates strong incentives for grade creep
Federal workforce has changed, makes it difficult to keep system up to date
Grade creep - CORRECT ANSWER Tendency for agencies to multiply the number of high administrative positions, shift professional specialists to administrative roles, or seek higher classifications for existing positions
Hiring by merit - CORRECT ANSWER Assembled examination
Grigg vs. Duke power: disparate impact theory
Applicants who pass the exam are placed on register of individuals for hire - CORRECT ANSWER Rule of three: the first three names on a ranked register list eligible for hire
Reform - CORRECT ANSWER Eligible vs. Ineligible
Veteran receive a five point bonus in the federal system; if they are disabled they get a ten point bonus - CORRECT ANSWER Preference over equally qualified white males is given to minorities, women, and disabled applicants
Average length of service: 17 years for full time, permanent, non postal employees - CORRECT ANSWER hard to remove mediocre employees
Separation by attrition, reductions in force, and buyouts - CORRECT ANSWER
Reductions in force (RIFS) - CORRECT ANSWER governments reduce their personnel ceilings to accommodate tight budgets; practiced in early 2000 by state and local governments
Buyouts - CORRECT ANSWER government offers cash incentives to employees who agree to leave government employment
Federal pay has tended to lag behind what employees would earn in similar private sector jobs - CORRECT ANSWER Government tends to provide generous fringe benefits
Civil service principle - CORRECT ANSWER Individuals should receive equal pay for jobs of comparable value
Comparable pay - CORRECT ANSWER Adjusted annually by the president
Locality pay adjustment
Equal pay for jobs of comparable worth
Unions fight for the right to represent a firm's workers and to be the exclusive bargaining agent - CORRECT ANSWER
Five types of security - CORRECT ANSWER closed shop
open shop
agency shop
union shop
maintenance of membership arrangement
Closed shop - CORRECT ANSWER company can only hire union members
Union Shop - CORRECT ANSWER the company can hire nonunion people, but they must join after a prescribed period of time and pay dues
Agency shop - CORRECT ANSWER employees who do not belong to the union still pay union dues: share the cost
Open shop - CORRECT ANSWER It is up to the workers whether or not they join the union. Those who do not join, do not pay dues
Maintenance of membership arrangement - CORRECT ANSWER A provision in the union contract which says that a worker who voluntarily joins the union must remain a member for the duration of the agreement
Taft- Hartley Act 1947 - CORRECT ANSWER Act:
1. Prohibiting union unfair labor practices
coercing employee to exercise their rights
Discriminate non-union employees
Unfair not to bargain in good faith with the employers
Solicit fees for non-performed service
2. Union security clauses
Allow states to outlaw union security clauses within their jurisdiction by passing right-to-work laws
3. Enumerating the rights of employers
Some rights to be against union organizations
e.g. allow employers to deliver anti-union messages in the workplace
e.g. petition against some provisions in collective bargaining
4. Allow the president to temporarily bar national emergency strike
National emergency strikes: strikes that might imperil the national health and safety
Right to work laws - CORRECT ANSWER Prohibit requirements that employees join or pay money to a union as a condition of employment
Remedies vary: some provide for civil enforcement with damages and injunctive relief; some provide for criminal penalties in addition or instead
What unions do? - CORRECT ANSWER .an organization of workers dedicated to protecting members' interests and improving wages, hours and working conditions for all.
Votes
2. Lobbying skills
3. Collective bargaining
High variations: GA prohibited; WI: allowed, but no strikes
Bargaining content:
Assignment and scheduling of work; grievance and other procedures, safety, employee counseling, technological replacement, and the color of wall paint
but not pay and fringes (decided by congress).
Not allowed on mission, budget, organization, number of employees, internal security issues, contracting out decisions, management's right in selecting candidates
Early 1980's PATCO strike - CORRECT ANSWER The Professional Association of Air Traffic Controllers struck on August of 1981, despite a no-strike clause
PATCO sought higher wages and benefits
President Reagan fired the strikers and used military controllers to keep traffic moving
The Federal Labor Relations Authority decertified PATCO, but the new controllers voted in a new union in 1987
The PATCO strike was a watershed event for labor
The strike hurt the image of labor for nearly two decades and legitimized hard-line bargaining by employers
During the Clinton Administration, the strikers were offered their jobs back and a few returned
After 2000: Diminishing union rights - CORRECT ANSWER TSA: Transportation Security Act: union-free
Department of Homeland Security: "meaningful collective bargaining", implementing a new HR management system.
1. reducing the number of situations where collective bargaining is required
2. streamlining adverse actions and appeals process
Specifically
expanding non-negotiable management rights;
bargaining on procedure was prohibited
limited bargaining on the impact of a management action
expedited collective bargaining with impasse resolution
one-stop dispute resolution
challenged by: National Treasury Employees Unions V. Michael Chertoff, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
Union facts in Jan 2013 - CORRECT ANSWER Public-sector workers had a union membership rate (35.9 percent) ,five times higher than private-sector (6.6 percent).
Workers in education, training, and library occupations and in protective service occupations had the highest unionization rates, at 35.4 and 34.8 percent, respectively.
Black workers were more likely to be union members than other workers
Among states, New York continued to have the highest union membership rate (23.2 percent), and North Carolina again had the lowest rate (2.9 percent).
Civil Service - CORRECT ANSWER Composed of those civilian employees who perform the administrative works of government (2.7 million people)
Spoils System - CORRECT ANSWER Practice of giving offices and other favors of government to political supporters and friends (Andrew Jackson - "father")
Patronage - CORRECT ANSWER Practice of giving jobs to supporters and friends (Jefferson)
Registers - CORRECT ANSWER Lists of those applicants who pass its tests and are qualified for employment
Bipartisan - CORRECT ANSWER Includes members from both parties
Introduction - CORRECT ANSWER *State law permits SLC as a "City of the first class" to establish a Civil Service System for all employees in PD and Fire
*Deputy Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs shall be appointed from the ranks of Civil Service, and they shall be reinstated to last Civil Service rank they held as long as they are removed for non-disciplinary reasons
*They are exempt from Civil Service process of appeals
*Civil Service Commission- Comprised of 3 members appointed by the mayor, 6 year terms expiring every even year
*All paid positions w/in both departments are considered Civil Service except Chiefs and DCs and ACs
Legal Counsel - CORRECT ANSWER *May retain legal counsel from SLC Attorney Office, unless it is a conflict of interest, then they may retain outside counsel at compensation that the mayor may fix
Meetings - CORRECT ANSWER *Meets at direction of Chairperson, and upon 24 hours notice, agenda shall be posted in compliance w/ "open meetings" law. Chiefs of both departments and City Attorney shall be given notice of any meetings along w/ copy of the agenda
*By 2/3 vote they can close a meeting or meet in executive session
*2 members constitutes a quorum, and concurring vote of 2 members is required to constitute an action or decide an issue
*Must prepare annual report for Mayor each December
Duties - CORRECT ANSWER *Shall have full charge of all examinations
*Establishes the classified Civil Service eligibility registers from which appointments and promotions shall be made
*Hearing and determining appeals of disciplinary terminations, demotions, or suspensions w/out pay which exceed 3 days or 24 working hours
Reports Made to the Commission from Chiefs - CORRECT ANSWER *Every office or position of employment created w/in their respective departments
*Every promotion
*Every probationary, provisional, or temporary appt. made
*Every suspension, w/out pay, greater than 3 days or 24 working hours
*Every demotion
*Every retirement
*Every termination, separation and resignation
Entering Civil Service - CORRECT ANSWER *All applicants for employment under Civil Service must be subject to examination, examinations must be public, competitive, and administered w/out cost to applicants
*Applicants must be at least 18, unless PD they must be 21
*All applicants for PD must be US citizens
*Applicants for entry-level positions must be given at least 10 business days written notice in which to apply
*Notice for promotional exams shall contain the date, time, place of exam along w/ the closing date for applications, notice shall also include examination methods to be used and the weight given to each component
*Request to postpone an exam or receive disability accommodations must submitted to department in writing at least 10 business days prior to exam
*All applicants will be notified in writing of the results of the exam, their final score, and the position attained on the register
Eligibility Registers - CORRECT ANSWER *Shall be certified by the Commission for each Civil Service position
*May approve a continuous eligibility roster (PD)
*May establish an eligibility register for any time period not to exceed 2 years
Removal from Eligibility Register - CORRECT ANSWER *Applicant fails to report to a scheduled interview, or fails to report to a pre-employment examination
*Applicant fails to respond to a notice of the department or Commission w/in 5 business days
*Applicant declines an offer for appointment
*Applicant fails any non-scored part of the examination process
*If removed from register, not eligible to retest for 12 months from date applicant was notified
Appointment from Eligibility Roster - CORRECT ANSWER *Eligibility register shall be used as follows: Commission shall certify to the appointing power the names of: 10 persons is position is entry level, or 5 persons if the position to be filled is other than entry level
*If more than one position is available, Commission shall also certify to the appointing power one additional name for each additional position to be filled
Reinstatements - CORRECT ANSWER *Employee who resigns from PD or Fire in good standing may be reinstated to their former position under following conditions: A vacancy exists, requests reimbursement w/in 36 months, passes all appropriate examinations and tests, must serve a probationary period of 90 days
*No former employee may be reinstated to a supervisory or promoted position
*Chiefs have complete discretion in deciding whether to recommend to the Commission the reinstatement of any employee
Probation - CORRECT ANSWER *Probationary period for entry level position is 6 months, or the length of time designated when position is open
*Probationary period for promoted positions is 6 months
Leave of Absence - CORRECT ANSWER *Department chief may grant a leave of absence to any employee, not to exceed 12 months
*Upon return an employee must be returned to a vacant position in the highest ranking position held when taking the leave, if a position vacancy exists
*May be returned to lower rank and considered eligible for promotion and placed at the top of current eligibility roster for the duration of that roster
Promotions - CORRECT ANSWER *All promotions w/ the Civil Service shall be made on the basis of: Ascertained Merit, Seniority in service, Standing obtained by competitive examination
*Promotions are based on substantial change of duties and the exercise of supervisory or administrative skills
*Rank of Captain- 10 years of service, 9 years w/ a college degree
*Rank of BC- Minimum 2 years as a Captain, completed 15 years of service, 14 years w/ associates, 13 years w/ bachelors
*Notice of promotional exams shall be given at least 20 days prior to date of exam
*Members subject to disciplinary action resulting in demotion in the past 12 months are not eligible to test for promotion, applicant may test if appeal is pending, but not promoted until appeal is determined, if discipline upheld they will be removed from register
*Whenever an eligibility roster contains less than 5 names, the Commission may upon request of the Chief approve a new examination to be given
*Chief shall select for promotion one person from the top 5 names on the eligibility register for each position to be filled
*Any applicant who is selected for promotion must indicate acceptance to the Chief w/in 10 business days
Rules of Discipline - CORRECT ANSWER *Suspensions w/ or w/out pay for a period not to exceed 3 days or 24 working hours are NOT subject to appeal before the commission
*All requests for appeal must be in writing, addressed to the commission, and filed w/ the Secretary of Commission
*Must be filed w/in 5 business days of the date decision was personally delivered or 8 business days from when it was mailed
*Demotions are also able to be appealed
Conduct of Hearings - CORRECT ANSWER *The Commission uses the Utah Rules of Evidence and Utah Rules of Civil Procedure as guidelines during hearings
*City shall present its case first, City has burden of proof on whether the facts support the charges. If employee challenges the consistency of the discipline, the employee bears the burden of proof on that issue
*Any request for subpoena must be made 30 calendar days before a scheduled hearing
*Commission only has the authority to uphold or reverse the department head's decision in disciplinary appeals
*A recording or transcript prepared by a certified court reporter of the hearing shall be kept on file at the Commission's office
Petitions - CORRECT ANSWER *All petitions must be in writing, addressed to the Secretary of the Commission, and must be received w/in 14 calendar days of the date the challenged action or decision occurred\
Civil Service Exam (year?) - CORRECT ANSWER Had its beginnings in the Sui dynasty (581-618 CE) but was fully developed during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912)
Civil Service Exam (who?) - CORRECT ANSWER China did this during the Qing Dynasty
Civil Service Exam (what?) - CORRECT ANSWER China wanted to put the best and brightest to serve in civil service
Civil Service Exam (requirements?) - CORRECT ANSWER Knowledge of ancient Confucian classics
Civil Service Exam (results?) - CORRECT ANSWER Social mobility (most men eligible); gentry (elitist) class formed through exams; worked well until Europe came in
how are women viewed in china? - CORRECT ANSWER insubordinate and below men in status and power
how did it affect chinese society? - CORRECT ANSWER society - The exam helped people who didn't have high connection to be able to be accepted into a higher class/government (even though aristocrats are more favored)
how did it affect families? - CORRECT ANSWER Families - aristocratic families have superiority over others because they have more opportunities in education than others
how did it affect class differences? - CORRECT ANSWER Class differences - The higher classes, although everyone can take the exam, have a greater chance of doing well because they have more schools and more chances to rise up in power.
how did it effect boys and girls? - CORRECT ANSWER Boys and girls - girls are not seen to have the power to reach a certain point in government because they were seen as weak and miniscule compared to men.
What were the economic effects of the system? - CORRECT ANSWER - The Tang can be regarded as a period of transition from the aristocratic government inherited from the time of the six dynasties to the purely bureaucratic government of future regimes
- Qualified officials administering the exam
How did it influence Chinese cultural values, ideas and education? - CORRECT ANSWER - They gained new ideas from different classes rising to power because they had different views on the society based on their previous ranks. China has gained a more advanced education system that requires students to learn Confucian texts.
As a pregnant woman, what things should an expectant mother do in order to have a positive influence on her unborn child? - CORRECT ANSWER Everything the women did had to be right. For example, her seat and pillows had to be exactly right and she could not wear unpleasant colors. She would also listen to classics being read aloud.
At what age would a boy start his studies in preparation for the exam? What types of knowledge/skills were students expected to master? - CORRECT ANSWER Boys were known to usually start school at age eight. They were to master 6 books, basically memorized for 6 years.
The civil service examination system was a much more "democratic" and "fair" system of government than the Muslim world. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your answer with specific examples from the passage. - CORRECT ANSWER I agree because Muslims didn't give the lower class the opportunity to rise to power. Chinese give lower class the chance to pass the exam and earn their way into government.
Did the examination system serve a useful purpose? Briefly describe the state of Chinese government and society during its period of disunity between the third to the sixth century. Who ruled the country? How was the civil service exam system a reaction against this? - CORRECT ANSWER yes, it gave oppurtinuty to lower classes. the ogvernment was the golden age of chinese aristocracy. During that time it controlled political offices in central and local governments. Sui ruled the country at that time and the exam system created a sort of chaos, children worrying about passing, and people retaking the exams they previously failed. People's lives and jobs depended on this single exam, so there was a great sense of competition between them and their peers.
What two issues arose as a result of the civil service exam? How did the Song (Sung) Dynasty overcome these disadvantages? What did the Song government do? - CORRECT ANSWER -It was almost too hard to pass, so there weren't that many people
-Offering the exam more frequently throughout the year
-3 times a year, 3 hundred men per time
-Some were too poor to take it, couldn't learn
-Aristocrats had an advantage
-As economy got better more people got wealthy during Song
-Block printing (more accessible books)
- cheating --> proctored exams [Show Less]