Government and Civil Service Federal Civil Service and Employment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the probationary period for most newly hired federal competitive service employees?
- 6 months
- 2 years
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 3 years
Correct answer: 1 year
Most new federal competitive service employees serve a one-year probationary period before gaining full civil service protections.
Question 2: Which retirement system covers most federal employees hired after January 1, 1984?
- Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
- Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) (Correct answer)
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) only
- Social Security only
Correct answer: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) is a three-part retirement system covering federal employees hired after 1983, including Social Security, a pension, and TSP.
Question 3: What is the Hatch Act?
- A law governing federal procurement and contracting
- A law restricting partisan political activities of federal employees (Correct answer)
- A law requiring background checks for federal workers
- A law establishing federal employee health benefits
Correct answer: A law restricting partisan political activities of federal employees
The Hatch Act of 1939 limits the political activities of federal employees to prevent partisan influence over the civil service.
Question 4: Which schedule of federal employment offers fewer procedural protections and is used for confidential or policy roles?
- GS Schedule
- Schedule A
- Schedule C (Correct answer)
- Senior Executive Service
Correct answer: Schedule C
Schedule C positions are excepted service appointments for confidential or policy-determining roles that are not subject to competitive service requirements.
Question 5: What agency investigates and prosecutes violations of federal merit system principles?
- Office of Special Counsel (OSC) (Correct answer)
- Department of Justice
- OPM Inspector General
- EEOC
Correct answer: Office of Special Counsel (OSC)
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent agency that investigates prohibited personnel practices and prosecutes violations of the Hatch Act.
Question 6: Federal employees who are wrongfully disciplined or fired can appeal to which body?
- Office of Personnel Management
- Federal Labor Relations Authority
- Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) (Correct answer)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Correct answer: Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is the independent quasi-judicial agency that hears appeals from federal employees challenging adverse employment actions.
Government and Civil Service Federal Civil Service and Employment 2
What is the probationary period for most newly hired federal competitive service employees?