The officials who actually do it

Civics & Economics · Government · ages 15-16

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which hiring decision follows a merit system?
- Using relevant qualifications and a test of job skills
- Using an applicant's support for the governing party
- Using a recommendation based on personal friendship with the minister
Which task is an example of government administration?
- Voting privately for a candidate in a public election
- Processing a benefit application under the programme's rules
- Debating which benefit policy a political party should propose next
Which list contains three commonly local-government services in the United States?
- Driver licenses, treaty talks and national defence
- Waste collection, public parks and national defence planning
- Public parks, waste collection and local-road maintenance
A rule allows an official to judge whether evidence meets a permit condition. What does this discretion permit?
- Choosing the result preferred by the official
- Assessing relevant evidence against the permit condition
- Replacing the permit condition with a different condition for this applicant
A road through your town has a pothole. Its official record names the state transport agency as maintainer. Where should you first report the damage?
- State transport: the recorded maintainer
- Town council: the road is inside town
- State finance: it may help pay for road work
An agency can make detailed regulations within authority granted to it by legislation.
Circle one: True False
A student says every election replaces all career staff with supporters of the winning party. Which response fits a merit-based career service?
- Career staff leave with the outgoing leadership
- Career staff generally stay while elected leadership changes
- Career staff stay only when they supported the winning party in the election
Invented notice: 'Appeal using Form R to the Review Office by 16 June. Service complaints go to Customer Care and do not extend this deadline.' You dispute the refusal and want to complain about rude service. Which action follows the notice?
- Send Form R to Customer Care by 16 June; it handles complaints.
- Send a complaint to Customer Care and await its reply before appealing.
- Send Form R to the Review Office by 16 June; complain separately.

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

The officials who actually do it W1-mt_oCh-n1NG7P-s1

Using relevant qualifications and a test of job skills · Merit hiring uses job-related qualifications and ability rather than political support or friendship.
Processing a benefit application under the programme's rules · Processing an application carries out an existing public programme. Voting and debating a party proposal are different political activities.
Public parks, waste collection and local-road maintenance · Parks, waste services and local-road maintenance are the lesson's commonly local examples. Particular arrangements still vary.
Assessing relevant evidence against the permit condition · Discretion permits judgment within legal limits, not personal favouritism.
State transport: the recorded maintainer · The official record identifies the state transport agency as responsible.
True · Legislation can delegate rulemaking authority, which the agency must use within its limits.
Career staff generally stay while elected leadership changes · Career staff provide continuity, while elected leaders and political appointees can change.
Send Form R to the Review Office by 16 June; complain separately. · The notice names Form R, the Review Office and 16 June for the appeal. Customer Care handles a separate complaint without extending that deadline.