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The civil service

Study note

The day to day work of putting government policies into practice is done by the civil service. Civil servants are the officials who support ministers and run government departments, but they are not politicians and are not elected by the public. They are chosen on merit, meaning on their ability to do the job.

A defining feature of the civil service is that it is politically neutral. Civil servants must serve whichever government is in power and carry out its policies fairly, whatever their own personal views. Because they are neutral and appointed on merit, they keep their jobs when the government changes after an election; they are not all replaced. For the test, remember that civil servants are neutral, chosen on merit, carry out government policy, and stay on when governments change.

Memory tip: Civil servants are neutral, chosen on merit, and stay on when governments change.

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Question 1 of 3

Which statement about the civil service is correct?

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Show all questions and answers for The civil service(3 questions with explanations)

The civil service: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Which statement about the civil service is correct?

    • Civil servants are politically neutral and chosen on merit
    • Civil servants make all the laws
    • Civil servants are elected by the public
    • Civil servants must all belong to the governing party

    Correct answer: Civil servants are politically neutral and chosen on merit

    Civil servants are politically neutral, chosen on merit, and carry out government policy.

  2. 2. Which of these statements is correct?

    • Civil servants keep their jobs when the government changes after an election
    • All civil servants are replaced whenever the government changes

    Correct answer: Civil servants keep their jobs when the government changes after an election

    Civil servants are politically neutral and continue in their jobs when governments change.

  3. 3. Which of these is NOT true of the civil service?

    • Civil servants carry out government policy
    • Civil servants are politically neutral
    • Civil servants are elected by the public
    • Civil servants are chosen on merit

    Correct answer: Civil servants are elected by the public

    Civil servants are appointed on merit, not elected by the public.

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