New Jersey Civil Service Exam General Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the New Jersey Civil Service Act, which body has the authority to adopt rules governing the classified service?
- The Governor's Office
- The Civil Service Commission (Correct answer)
- The State Legislature
- The State Treasurer
Correct answer: The Civil Service Commission
The New Jersey Civil Service Commission is the body authorized to adopt rules and regulations governing the classified civil service.
Question 2: A classified employee in New Jersey receives a 'notice of removal.' How many calendar days does the employee typically have to appeal to the Civil Service Commission?
- 10 days
- 20 days (Correct answer)
- 30 days
- 45 days
Correct answer: 20 days
Classified employees generally have 20 calendar days from the date of the notice to file an appeal with the Civil Service Commission.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes the 'veterans' preference' in New Jersey civil service examinations?
- Veterans are exempt from taking all written exams
- Veterans receive additional points added to their passing examination score (Correct answer)
- Veterans are automatically placed at the top of all eligible lists
- Veterans may substitute military service for all education requirements
Correct answer: Veterans receive additional points added to their passing examination score
Eligible veterans receive preference points (typically 5 points, or 10 for disabled veterans) added to a passing exam score.
Question 4: In New Jersey state government, what is the primary purpose of the 'position classification' system?
- To determine salary ranges for political appointees
- To group positions with similar duties and responsibilities under common titles and pay grades (Correct answer)
- To rank employees by seniority within a department
- To assign geographic work locations to state workers
Correct answer: To group positions with similar duties and responsibilities under common titles and pay grades
Position classification groups jobs with comparable duties, responsibilities, and qualifications under standardized titles and pay grades to ensure equitable compensation.
Question 5: Which New Jersey law prohibits public employees from striking against the government?
- The New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act (Correct answer)
- The New Jersey Civil Service Act
- The Employer Prohibition Act
- The Taylor Law
Correct answer: The New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act
The New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act (EERA) governs collective negotiations and prohibits strikes by public employees.
Question 6: A state employee in a competitive division position is laid off due to a departmental reorganization. What right does NJ Civil Service law typically grant this employee?
- Immediate reinstatement to a higher-grade position
- Bumping rights to displace a less senior employee in a lower title (Correct answer)
- A guaranteed private sector job placement
- Permanent exemption from future civil service examinations
Correct answer: Bumping rights to displace a less senior employee in a lower title
NJ civil service rules grant laid-off competitive-division employees 'bumping rights,' allowing them to displace less senior employees in certain lower-level titles.
Question 7: Which of the following actions by a New Jersey public employee would MOST LIKELY constitute a violation of the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law?
- Voting in a local election
- Using official position to secure a contract benefit for a family-owned business (Correct answer)
- Joining a professional association related to their field
- Attending a job-related training seminar paid for by the agency
Correct answer: Using official position to secure a contract benefit for a family-owned business
Using public office to secure personal or familial financial gain is a direct violation of New Jersey's Conflicts of Interest Law.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam General Practice 2
Under the New Jersey Civil Service Act, which body has the authority to adopt rules governing the classified service?