Free Ohio Civil Service Sample Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why does the government impose restrictions on civil personnel's political activity?
- Civil workers should represent the concept of a bipartisan government. (Correct answer)
- The Pendleton Act
- Merit/patronage
- FALSE
Correct answer: Civil workers should represent the concept of a bipartisan government.
Explanation: <br> The political activity of civil servants is restricted by the government to maintain the impartiality and neutrality of the civil service. Civil servants are expected to serve the government of the day regardless of their personal political beliefs or affiliations.
Question 2: The following determines civil worker pay and benefits:
- The house of representatives
- A state's governor
- The congress (Correct answer)
- The president
Correct answer: The congress
Explanation: <br> Pay and benefits for civil servants are set by the United States Congress. The compensation of civil servants is governed by laws passed by Congress, which establish the pay scales, benefits, and other conditions of employment for federal employees.
Question 3: The initial head of state to establish the civil service was:
- Washington (Correct answer)
- Lincoln
- Oregon
- California
Correct answer: Washington
Explanation: <br> The first president to implement a civil service system in the United States was actually James A. Garfield.
Question 4: What was wrong with the spoils system?
- The system was built on favors for political allies rather than merit (Correct answer)
- The assassination of President Garfield by a jealous aspirant for office
- Merit
- The federal workforce experiences a significant turnover with each new administration
Correct answer: The system was built on favors for political allies rather than merit
Explanation: <br> The spoils system, which was also known as the patronage system, was a flawed system of appointing government officials based on political patronage and loyalty rather than qualifications and merit. This system was widely used in the United States in the 19th century, particularly during the administrations of Andrew Jackson and his successors.
Question 5: The Pendleton Act used this as a foundation for employment with the federal government.
- Orbit
- Merit (Correct answer)
- Aversion
- Maturity
Correct answer: Merit
Explanation: <br> The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 established merit as the basis of employment with the federal government. The Act created a merit-based system for hiring and promoting government employees, replacing the previous system of political patronage and favoritism.
Question 6: Why was the civil service system finally established?
- The system was built on favors for political allies rather than merit
- The assassination of President Garfield by a vengeful aspirant for office (Correct answer)
- Merit
- Every time a new administration takes office, there is a large workforce transition
Correct answer: The assassination of President Garfield by a vengeful aspirant for office
Explanation: <br> The assassination of President James A. Garfield by an angry office seeker played a significant role in the establishment of the civil service system in the United States. In 1881, President Garfield was shot and killed by Charles J. Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker who believed that he was entitled to a government position as a reward for his political support.
Question 7: Pick on the grammatically soundest phrase.
- The principal objective is to increase awareness of the issue
- He was recently promoted to principal
- That is a good idea in principle
- The prosecutor summed up his principle point in his closing statement (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The prosecutor summed up his principle point in his closing statement
Explanation: <br> Principal typically denotes the primary in an adjective. The principle is a term that generally refers to a rule, conviction, or code of behavior.
Free Ohio Civil Service Sample Questions and Answers
Why does the government impose restrictions on civil personnel's political activity?