Characteristics and roles of the Civil Service

Question 1

What are the 3 interlocking principles which civil servants traditionally operate under?

Answer 1

• Anonymity
• Permanence
• Impartiality

Question 2

What is the theory of civil servant impartiality ?

Answer 2

that civil servants serve the Crown and should not be asked to perform party political functions

Question 3

What has undermined the impartiality of the civil service? (2)

Answer 3

impartiality has been undermined by the

• rise of special advisers
• by the politicalisation of the service since 1979

Question 4

What is the theory behind the anonymity of the civil service?

Answer 4

Individual civil servants should not be identified publicly as the source of policy

Question 5

Why should individual servants not be identified publicly as the source of policy?

Answer 5

due to the doctrine of ministerial responsibility

Question 6

What has undermined the anonymity of the civil service? (2)

Answer 6

anonymity has been undermined by

• public criticism of named civi servants over policy
• the rise of agencies where civil servants and not ministers appear to be responsible for policy

Question 7

What is the theory behind the permanence of the civil service?

Answer 7

civil servants should remain in office even following a change in government

Question 8

In practise, what is the actual reality of the permanence of the civil service?

Answer 8

many civil servants are now on fixed term contracts

Question 9

What are the 5 roles of the civil service?

Answer 9

1) Research
2) Policy advice
3) Policy execution
4) departmental administration
5) ensuring continuity and a smooth transition between governments

Question 10

What do civil servant specialists provide the government which is essential to policy formation?

Answer 10

the detailed research

Question 11

Why is the role of civil servants to have detailed research a crucial role?

Answer 11

as most ministers are generalists

Question 12

What is the crucial role of the 1,000 top bureaucrats in the senior civil service? (2)

Answer 12

In advising ministers and presenting proposals at the ministers request

Question 13

In terms of departmental administration which is the civil service responsible for?

Answer 13

the organisation of each government department

Question 14

How is the role of the civil service to provide continuity through ministerial reshuffles and changes in government achieved?

Answer 14

through their principles of impartiality, anonymity and permanence