Armenia Civil Service Exam cheat sheet

Armenian alphabet: 38 letters (31 consonants, 7 vowels), created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD.

Vowels: ա, ե, է, ը, ի, ո, ու - each vowel has a distinct sound value; ը is a reduced mid central vowel.

Armenian has no grammatical gender and no definite article as a separate word; definiteness is marked by the suffix -ը/-ն.

The definite article -ը attaches after consonants, -ն after vowels (տունը, գինին).

Case system: nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, ablative, instrumental, locative (7 cases).

Verb conjugation distinguishes present, past imperfect, past perfect, future, and subjunctive/conditional moods.

Classical literary monuments: the Bible translation (5th c.) and Movses Khorenatsi's History of Armenia.

Medieval poetic tradition includes Grigor Narekatsi's Book of Lamentations (10th c.) and Sayat-Nova's ashugh verse.

Modern literary canon includes Khachatur Abovyan (Wounds of Armenia) and Hovhannes Tumanyan's narrative poems.

Article 1: Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social, and rule-of-law state.

Article 2: Power belongs to the people, exercised through free elections, referenda, and constitutional bodies.

Article 3: The human being is the highest value; fundamental rights are inalienable and directly applicable.

Separation of powers: legislative (National Assembly), executive (Government/President), judicial (courts and Constitutional Court).

The National Assembly has 101 seats; deputies are elected for a 5-year term under a proportional system.

The President is elected by the National Assembly for a 7-year term and is a ceremonial head of state.

Constitutional amendments require a referendum or a two-thirds majority of the total number of deputies.

The Constitutional Court reviews constitutionality of laws, treaties, and normative acts; its decisions are final.

Local self-government is guaranteed; communities are governed by elected councils and community heads.

Civil service positions are classified by groups (higher, chief, leading, senior, junior) and categories.

Entry to civil service is generally by competition; some positions are filled by appointment or transfer.

The civil servant's legal status law governs rights, duties, restrictions, and incompatibilities.

Incompatibilities include holding another paid position, business ownership, and partisan political office.

Annual performance appraisal determines promotion, qualification class, and retention.

Disciplinary liability: reprimand, demotion, dismissal - imposed after written explanation and internal review.

Declaration of assets and income is mandatory for designated officials and is subject to verification.

Civil servants are subject to anti-corruption restrictions, conflict-of-interest rules, and gift limits.

Administrative ethics codes require impartiality, confidentiality, and non-discrimination.

An administrative act is a unilateral decision by an administrative body creating, modifying, or terminating rights/obligations.

Administrative act requirements: competence, lawful form, stated reasons, notification to the addressee.

An act may be void if issued by an incompetent body or lacking a legal basis; void acts produce no legal effect.

Administrative appeal: a person may challenge an act before a higher body or in an administrative court.

Administrative court jurisdiction covers legality of administrative acts and administrative contracts.

Proportionality and legality are core principles; discretion must remain within statutory limits.

Administrative procedure requires hearing the person, access to the file, and a reasoned decision.

Time limits for contesting administrative acts are set by the Administrative Procedure Code.

State liability for unlawful administrative acts is a recognized ground for compensation claims.

Civil law capacity begins at birth and ends at death; full active capacity generally begins at 18.

Legal persons acquire capacity upon state registration; they act through their bodies.

Contract is formed by offer and acceptance; essential terms must be agreed.

Ownership rights: possession, use, and disposal; ownership is protected by vindicatio and negatoria actions.

Limitation period for general civil claims is 3 years unless a special period applies.

Obligations are extinguished by performance, set-off, novation, or impossibility of performance.

Torts: liability requires wrongful act, damage, causation, and fault.

Civil procedure: claim filed in the court of the defendant's residence; parties bear burden of proof.

Court decisions enter into legal force after the appeal period expires; cassation review is limited to legal errors.

Crime elements: actus reus, mens rea, subject, object; absence of any element precludes liability.

Criminal liability begins at age 16; for a listed set of serious crimes, at age 14.

Punishments include fine, community service, imprisonment for a term, and life imprisonment (limited).

Necessary defense and extreme necessity exclude wrongfulness when statutory conditions are met.

Presumption of innocence: guilt must be proven; doubt is interpreted in favor of the accused.

Pre-trial proceedings include investigation and preliminary investigation; the prosecutor supervises legality.

Detention requires a court decision; the maximum pre-trial detention period is set by the Criminal Procedure Code.

Defense counsel must be present from the moment of actual detention or first interrogation as a suspect.

Cassation appeal is limited to fundamental violations of substantive or procedural law.

Employment contract is concluded in writing; it must specify position, wage, and working conditions.

Probation period may not exceed 3 months (statutory limit for standard contracts).

Normal working time is 40 hours per week; reduced hours apply to certain categories of workers.

Annual paid leave is at least 20 working days (statutory minimum).

Overtime and night work are compensated at rates set by the Labor Code.

Termination grounds include agreement, expiry of term, employee initiative, and employer initiative with statutory grounds.

Dismissal requires written notice and, in specified cases, consultation with the trade union.

Social insurance covers pensions, temporary disability, maternity, and unemployment benefits.

Labor disputes are resolved by a labor dispute commission or in court.

The state budget is adopted annually by the National Assembly as a law; fiscal year equals the calendar year.

Budget process stages: drafting by the Government, review and approval by the National Assembly, execution, control, and reporting.

The Treasury executes the budget through a single treasury account system.

Taxes are established only by law; the tax system is governed by the Tax Code.

Budget deficit is financed by domestic and external borrowing within statutory limits.

Control over budget execution is exercised by the Chamber of Control and parliamentary committees.

Budget classification includes functional, economic, and departmental categories.

Social insurance contributions are mandatory payments financing state pension and benefit systems.

Public procurement is governed by the procurement law and requires transparency and competition.

Valid argument: conclusion follows necessarily from premises; soundness additionally requires true premises.

Modus ponens: P→Q, P, therefore Q. Modus tollens: P→Q, ¬Q, therefore ¬P.

Affirming the consequent (P→Q, Q, therefore P) and denying the antecedent are invalid forms.

Contrapositive of P→Q is ¬Q→¬P (logically equivalent); converse Q→P is not equivalent.

Percentage change = (new − old) / old × 100; percentage of a number = rate × base.

Average speed = total distance / total time, not the arithmetic mean of speeds.

Simple interest = P × r × t; compound amount = P(1 + r)^t.

Work-rate problems: combined rate = 1/a + 1/b; time together = ab/(a + b).

Ratio scaling: if a:b = m:n, then a = mk and b = nk for some positive k.

Binary to decimal: each bit position has weight 2^n; e.g., 1011₂ = 8+2+1 = 11.

1 byte = 8 bits; 1 KB = 1024 bytes; 1 MB = 1024 KB; 1 GB = 1024 MB.

CPU executes instructions; RAM is volatile working memory; storage (SSD/HDD) is non-volatile.

HTTPS encrypts traffic via TLS; a padlock indicates an encrypted connection, not guaranteed trustworthiness.

Strong passwords are long, unique, and random; multi-factor authentication adds a second factor.

Phishing is social engineering via deceptive messages; verify sender address and links before acting.

Public-key cryptography uses a public key to encrypt/verify and a private key to decrypt/sign.

Backups follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 off-site.

A hash function maps data to a fixed-length digest and is one-way; it verifies integrity, not secrecy.

Electronic document validity requires an electronic digital signature meeting statutory requirements.

Electronic digital signature: created with a private key, verified with the corresponding public key and certificate.

A qualified electronic signature has the legal effect of a handwritten signature.

Personal data processing requires a lawful basis, purpose limitation, and data-subject consent or statutory ground.

Data subjects have rights to access, rectify, and erase personal data, and to object to processing.

Interoperability of state information systems relies on shared identifiers and standardized data exchange formats.

Cybersecurity principles: least privilege, defense in depth, and incident logging.

Digital literacy includes evaluating source credibility and distinguishing official portals from lookalike sites.

Conflict of interest arises when private interest could improperly influence official duties; must be declared and recused.

Gifts to officials are restricted to symbolic value thresholds set by anti-corruption law.

Whistleblower protections apply to persons reporting corruption in good faith.

Administrative accountability mechanisms include internal audit, parliamentary oversight, and judicial review.

Transparency principle: normative acts and decisions are published; access to information is presumed.

Public officials must file asset declarations covering income, property, and interests of close relatives.

Failure to declare or false declaration is a disciplinary and, in specified cases, criminal offense.

Ethical decision rule: if a decision benefits a related person, disclose and withdraw from the decision.

Invalid transactions: void (no legal effect from the outset) vs. voidable (invalid upon court declaration).

Material breach of contract entitles the injured party to damages and, in specified cases, termination.

Damages cover actual loss and lost profit; punitive damages are generally not awarded.

Penalty (liquidated damages) is recoverable per contract; courts may reduce it if clearly disproportionate.

Statute of limitations runs from when the injured party knew or should have known of the violation.

Filing a claim interrupts the limitation period; the court applies limitation only upon a party's request.

Inheritance: statutory heirs by order; a will may alter statutory distribution within forced-share limits.

Property rights over immovable property arise upon state registration.

Representation requires a power of attorney; transactions beyond its scope may be voidable.

Evidence must be relevant, admissible, and obtained lawfully; illegally obtained evidence is excluded.

Burden of proof lies with the prosecution; the accused is not required to prove innocence.

Suspects and accused have the right to remain silent and to counsel at all stages.

Search and seizure require a court authorization except in urgent statutory cases.

Interrogation may not exceed statutory time limits; rest periods must be provided.

Plea agreements are possible under statutory conditions and require judicial approval.

Court verdicts may be acquittal or conviction; acquittal grounds include absence of the crime event.

Appeal deadlines are set by the Criminal Procedure Code; missing a deadline requires restoration by motion.

Minimum wage is set by law and applies to all employees working normal hours.

Wages are paid at least twice per month unless the contract provides otherwise.

Rest between shifts must be at least 12 hours; weekly rest at least 42 hours.

Holidays and non-working days are compensated per the Labor Code when work is performed.

Sick leave is compensated based on average earnings and statutory percentage by length of service.

Severance pay is due on specified termination grounds and depends on length of service.

Collective agreements regulate wages and conditions and cannot worsen statutory guarantees.

Employer must maintain records of working time and pay for all hours actually worked.

Tax elements: taxpayer, object of taxation, tax base, rate, and tax period.

Progressive tax: rate rises with the base; proportional tax: single rate; regressive: rate falls as base rises.

Income tax is withheld at source by the tax agent; VAT is an indirect tax on value added.

Tax liability arises when the object of taxation occurs within the tax period.

Tax authorities may conduct audits; taxpayers have the right to appeal audit decisions.

Tax evasion is a criminal offense when statutory thresholds are met.

Statutory deadlines for filing returns and paying taxes are binding; late payment incurs penalties.

Double taxation is avoided through international treaties and foreign tax credits.

Categorical syllogism: two premises, one conclusion; validity depends on form, not content.

All A are B; All B are C; therefore All A are C (valid Barbara form).

All A are B; No B are C; therefore No A are C (valid).

Some A are B does not imply All A are B or No A are B.

Contradictories: 'All A are B' and 'Some A are not B' cannot both be true.

Set union A∪B contains elements in A or B; intersection A∩B contains elements in both.

De Morgan: ¬(A∧B) ≡ ¬A∨¬B; ¬(A∨B) ≡ ¬A∧¬B.

Sufficient condition: A implies B; necessary condition: B is required for A.

Necessary and sufficient condition: A if and only if B; equivalent to A→B and B→A.

To compare growth rates, use (final − initial)/initial; absolute change alone can mislead.

Weighted average = Σ(value × weight)/Σ(weight).

Median is the middle value of ordered data; it is robust to outliers, the mean is not.

Mode is the most frequent value; a dataset can have multiple modes.

Percentage points measure the difference between two percentages; percent measures relative change.

If a quantity increases by x% then decreases by x%, the net result is a decrease of x²/100 %.

Ratio problems: keep units consistent; convert to the same base before comparing.

Chart reading: check axis scales and starting values before drawing conclusions.

Correlation does not imply causation; a third variable may explain the association.

Quadratic formula: x = [−b ± √(b² − 4ac)] / (2a); discriminant b² − 4ac determines real roots.

Area of triangle = ½ × base × height; Heron's formula uses semiperimeter s = (a+b+c)/2.

Circle: area = πr²; circumference = 2πr.

Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c² for right triangles.

Volume: cylinder = πr²h; sphere = (4/3)πr³; cone = (1/3)πr²h.

Exponent rules: a^m × a^n = a^(m+n); (a^m)^n = a^(mn); a^0 = 1 (a ≠ 0).

Logarithm: log(ab) = log a + log b; log(a^n) = n log a.

Probability of independent events: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B).

Arithmetic sequence: a_n = a_1 + (n−1)d; sum = n(a_1 + a_n)/2.

Spreadsheet absolute reference $A$1 stays fixed when copied; relative A1 changes.

Formula result errors: #DIV/0! (division by zero), #REF! (invalid reference), #VALUE! (wrong type).

Email conventions: CC for informational recipients, BCC hides recipients from each other.

URL structure: scheme://host/path; the host identifies the server, path the resource.

Cloud storage sync conflicts occur when the same file is edited offline on two devices.

Two-factor authentication combines something you know with something you have.

Malware types: virus (needs host), worm (self-replicating), trojan (disguised), ransomware (encrypts data).

File extensions indicate format; renaming does not convert the underlying format.

Fundamental rights may be restricted only by law, for a legitimate aim, and proportionally.

Right to life, prohibition of torture, and non-retroactivity of criminal law are absolute guarantees.

Everyone has the right to effective judicial protection and a fair trial within a reasonable time.

Judges are independent and irremovable; they are subject to the Constitution and law only.

The Supreme Judicial Council governs judicial appointments and discipline.

The Constitutional Court may be seized by specified bodies and, in defined cases, by individuals.

Freedom of expression may be restricted to protect reputation, national security, or public order.

Right to property may be limited in the public interest with prior and adequate compensation.

Citizens have the right to elect and be elected; voting is universal, equal, and secret.

Administrative enforcement requires a lawful, enforceable act and prior warning unless urgency applies.

Enforcement measures must be proportionate to the aim and may not exceed statutory limits.

Administrative fines are imposed by written decision with a right of appeal.

State bodies may be liable for damage caused by unlawful acts of their officials.

Administrative contracts are concluded for public purposes and are subject to administrative court review.

A person may request correction or revocation of an administrative act affecting them.

Administrative silence may be treated as refusal and is contestable in court.

Emergency administrative powers are limited in time and subject to judicial review.

Court jurisdiction: general rule is the defendant's place of residence; contractual jurisdiction is permitted by agreement.

Exclusive jurisdiction applies to immovable property disputes at the property's location.

Burden of proof rests on the party asserting a fact.

Evidence types include written, physical, witness testimony, expert opinion, and audio-video records.

Third parties may intervene with independent or dependent claims.

Procedural deadlines may be restored upon justified motion.

Court may grant interim measures (seizure, injunction) to secure a claim.

Appeal reviews facts and law; cassation reviews legal issues and uniformity of practice.

Court fees and state duty depend on the claim value and statutory schedule.

Complicity: perpetrator, organizer, instigator, and aider are distinguished by role.

Attempted crime and preparation are punishable only in cases expressly provided by law.

Voluntary abandonment of a crime excludes liability if the act is fully prevented.

Aggravating circumstances include commission by a group, with cruelty, or for mercenary motives.

Statute of limitations for criminal liability depends on the maximum penalty of the offense.

Amnesty and pardon are distinct: amnesty by law, pardon by individual act.

Recidivism affects the type and severity of punishment.

Confiscation and other measures apply as provided by the Criminal Code.

Employer-initiated termination requires a statutory ground and a written notice period.

Redundancy requires selection criteria and, in specified cases, preferential retention rights.

Termination during temporary disability or leave is restricted except on specific grounds.

Final settlement, including unused leave compensation, is paid on the day of dismissal.

Labor dispute commission examines individual disputes before court in specified cases.

Collective disputes may involve conciliation, mediation, and arbitration.

Discrimination in employment is prohibited; equal pay applies for equal work.

Employee has the right to appeal unlawful dismissal and seek reinstatement and compensation.

Chamber of Control audits legality and efficiency of budget funds use.

Internal audit assesses risk management and internal control within state bodies.

External audit reports are submitted to the National Assembly.

Misuse of budget funds entails disciplinary, administrative, or criminal liability.

Treasury single account ensures cash discipline and prevents off-budget spending.

Budget execution reports are published for transparency.

Public debt limits are set by law as a percentage of GDP.

Procurement complaints are reviewed by an authorized appeal body.

Circular reasoning assumes the conclusion among the premises.

Ad hominem attacks the person rather than the argument.

Straw man misrepresents an opponent's position to refute it.

False dilemma presents only two options when others exist.

Hasty generalization draws a broad conclusion from insufficient cases.

Post hoc fallacy assumes causation from temporal sequence.

Definition by genus and difference: place the term in a class, then state distinguishing feature.

Ambiguity arises when a term shifts meaning within an argument.

Mixture problems: amount of solute = concentration × volume; keep solute constant when mixing.

Distance problems: distance = speed × time; for opposite directions add speeds, for same direction subtract.

Discount then tax: apply discount first, then tax on the discounted price.

Profit percent = (selling price − cost)/cost × 100.

Averaging: sum = average × count; new average after adding a value = (old sum + value)/(n+1).

Age problems: set up equations using present ages and differences that remain constant.

Integer constraints: number of items must be a nonnegative integer; check divisibility.

Unit conversion: multiply by conversion factors so unwanted units cancel.

OSI layers: physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, application.

IP address identifies a host; DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses.

TCP is connection-oriented and reliable; UDP is connectionless and faster.

Firewall filters traffic by rules; antivirus detects known malware signatures and behavior.

Encryption at rest protects stored data; encryption in transit protects data on the network.

Digital certificate binds a public key to an identity and is issued by a certificate authority.

Least privilege limits user rights to what the role requires.

Patch management closes known vulnerabilities; unpatched systems are a primary attack vector.

Marriage requires mutual consent and is registered by the civil registry.

Spousal property is presumed joint unless a marriage contract provides otherwise.

Parents have equal rights and duties toward their children; child's interests prevail.

Inheritance opens at the place of the deceased's last residence.

A will must meet statutory form requirements; a notarized will reduces contestability.

Forced heirs are entitled to a statutory share regardless of the will.

Acceptance of inheritance may be by conduct or formal declaration within the statutory period.

Adoption requires court decision and consent of statutory persons.

Policy cycle: agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring, evaluation.

SMART criteria: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound.

Regulatory impact assessment evaluates costs, benefits, and alternatives before adopting a regulation.

Performance indicators should be measurable and linked to program objectives.

Public consultation increases legitimacy and improves regulatory quality.

E-government services aim at interoperability and single-window delivery.

Decentralization transfers competences and resources to local self-government.

Monitoring compares actual outputs with planned targets; evaluation assesses outcomes and impact.

Sentencing considers gravity, motive, consequences, and mitigating/aggravating circumstances.

Mitigating circumstances may include confession, reparation, and cooperation with investigation.

Suspended sentence may be applied when statutory conditions are met.

Fine amount is set in multiples of the statutory base unit.

Community service is measured in hours and has statutory limits.

Life imprisonment is excluded for certain categories (e.g., minors, some offenses).

Criminal record affects sentencing and expires after statutory periods.

Release on parole requires serving a statutory portion of the sentence and good conduct.