ABSTRACT
In a general sense, the civil service is comprised of all individuals employed in government, with the exception of those in the military and those who work for the legislature and judicial branches of government. As such, civil service systems exist at every level of government and in every country. Because those who work in the civil service are charged with the responsibility for implementing and managing government operations and programs, the relationship between the civil service and political authorities at the heads of governments has always been of critical importance. Competence, responsiveness, and accountability in the civil service are issues often defined in terms of the context of that relationship. It is expected that public employees will possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities requisite for their positions; that they will be responsive to the public that they serve; and that they will be held accountable to the public and government leaders for their official actions.
