General Flashcards
7 cards from real NYC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 General flashcards as text
Which principle underlies the civil service merit system?
Answer: Public employment should be based on fitness and ability determined by open competition
The merit system holds that government employment decisions should be based on demonstrated ability and fitness, not patronage or favoritism.
A city employee discovers that a colleague is using a city-owned vehicle for personal errands. The most appropriate action is to:
Answer: Report the misuse to a supervisor or the agency's Inspector General
Misuse of city property should be reported to a supervisor or Inspector General, as it constitutes waste of public resources.
Under NYC law, which of the following actions by a city employee would most likely constitute 'whistleblower' protected activity?
Answer: Reporting suspected corruption within the agency to the Department of Investigation
NYC law protects employees who report illegal or improper governmental actions to appropriate authorities from retaliation.
If a city employee is subpoenaed to testify in a legal proceeding about official duties, the employee should:
Answer: Notify the agency's legal counsel and comply with the subpoena
Employees must comply with valid subpoenas but should notify agency counsel so legal guidance and representation can be arranged.
An eligible list for a civil service title typically expires after how many years under NYC rules?
Answer: 4 years
NYC civil service eligible lists generally remain in effect for four years, though they can be extended or allowed to lapse depending on hiring needs.
Which of the following best describes the 'rule of three' in NYC civil service hiring?
Answer: An agency must select from the top three available candidates on the eligible list
The rule of three requires an appointing authority to choose from among the top three available candidates certified from the eligible list.
A city employee who works in a position designated as 'non-competitive' class was hired without an examination. This is permitted because:
Answer: The position requires skills that are not readily tested by competitive examination
Non-competitive positions are those where competitive examination is not practicable, typically due to the specialized or unique nature of the required skills.