ERA Senior Civil Servant Exam key terms

The recurring sequence through which public policy is designed, adopted, implemented and evaluated, linking agenda setting, formulation, decision, delivery and review into one continuous learning process.

A structured appraisal of the likely economic, social and environmental effects of proposed regulation, comparing realistic options against a baseline before a decision is taken.

A reasoned model explaining how planned activities are expected to produce outputs, outcomes and impact, including the assumptions and external conditions required for success.

A policy discipline combining impact assessment, consultation, simplification and review to improve the quality, consistency and proportionality of regulation across its lifecycle.

The legal test that a measure must be suitable and necessary to achieve a legitimate objective and must not impose burdens exceeding what is required.

The principle that action should be taken at the lowest effective level of government, with higher levels intervening only where lower levels cannot achieve the objective.

The specific treaty or statutory provision that empowers an institution to act, determines the applicable procedure and limits the scope of the measure.

A non-legislative measure adopted by the executive to supplement or amend non-essential elements of a legislative act, under conditions set in that act.

A measure adopted to ensure uniform application of a legally binding act, typically through committee procedures rather than by amending the parent legislation.

The compliance costs imposed on businesses and citizens by information obligations and paperwork required by regulation, measured separately from the substantive policy costs.

The annual sequence of planning, proposal, adoption, execution, audit and discharge through which public money is authorised, spent and scrutinised.

Budget authority allowing an institution to enter into legal obligations that will require payments in the current or future years.

Budget authority allowing cash payments to be made during a given year to settle obligations already committed under earlier or current commitments.

The principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness in using public funds, supported by internal control and clear accountability for results.

The policies, procedures and checks an organisation uses to safeguard assets, ensure reliable reporting and reduce the risk of error or fraud.

The rules and processes by which public bodies buy goods, works and services, balancing value for money with transparency and fair competition.

The set of objectives, indicators, targets and review arrangements used to judge whether an organisation or programme is delivering intended results.

The systematic attraction, development, deployment and retention of people with the competencies needed for current and future organisational priorities.

A structured description of the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected at different levels, used for recruitment, appraisal and development.

A situation where unregulated markets fail to allocate resources efficiently, such as monopoly, externalities, public goods or information asymmetry, justifying public intervention.

Public support to an undertaking that confers a selective advantage and may distort competition, permitted only under specified treaty conditions.

A method comparing the full social costs and benefits of options in monetary terms, often using discounting, to judge whether an intervention improves welfare.

The system of committees through which member states scrutinise and vote on executive measures before adoption, balancing national expertise with collective decision-making.

A binding arrangement between institutions that sets how they cooperate, consult and share information, often covering budgeting, law-making or transparency commitments.

The formal arrangements of boards, committees, mandates and controls that determine how an organisation is directed, overseen and held to account.

A planning matrix that sets out objectives, outputs, activities, indicators and assumptions for a project or programme, used for design and monitoring.

The systematic process of identifying, assessing, treating and monitoring uncertainties that could affect objectives, with controls proportionate to the likely impact.

The structured approach to planning, communicating and sustaining organisational change so that new processes are adopted and performance is maintained.

The disciplined use of reliable data, research and evaluation findings to inform policy choices, while acknowledging uncertainty, values and political judgement.

A selected measure that tracks progress towards a specific objective, chosen because it is relevant, attributable and reliable enough to guide decisions.

The legal and organisational rules governing collection and use of personal data, including lawful basis, minimisation, security and rights of individuals.

The redesign of services and internal processes around digital tools and data, changing working practices rather than merely automating existing steps.

A technique for identifying actors affected by or able to influence a policy, then classifying them by interest, power and likely position to plan engagement.

A formal process inviting interested parties to comment on a proposed policy or rule before adoption, with published feedback and reasons for decisions.

A plan defining audiences, key messages, channels, timing and evaluation for communicating a policy or change, aligned with organisational objectives.

The principle that decisions, data and processes should be open to scrutiny, subject only to legitimate limits such as privacy, security or commercial confidentiality.

The obligation of officials and institutions to explain and justify their actions to oversight bodies and the public, and to accept consequences for performance.

A situation where a person's private interest could improperly influence official judgement, requiring disclosure, recusal or other mitigation.

The protected disclosure of wrongdoing within or about an organisation, enabling concerns to be raised without retaliation and supporting accountability.