Civil Service Law and Ethics in Public Administration
This domain covers the Law on Administrative Servants and the ethical standards expected in public administration. It tests recruitment, rights and duties, appraisal, discipline, conflict of interest, and political neutrality.
Core rules
- Administrative servants are recruited on merit through public announcement, eligibility checks, and selection by a commission; political affiliation is not a lawful criterion.
- The service is professional, impartial, and politically neutral. Neutrality protects lawful government policy, not personal opposition to it.
- Duties include legality, diligence, confidentiality, courtesy, non-discrimination, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
- A conflict of interest must be disclosed and managed, often by recusal from the decision.
- Appraisal and promotion should rest on performance and competence. Disciplinary liability requires a defined breach and proportionate sanction.
- The code of ethics applies to conduct at work and can reach conduct outside work where it damages public trust.
Worked example
A procurement officer is asked to evaluate a bid from a company owned by her brother. She must disclose the relationship and withdraw from the evaluation. Staying silent and voting for the bid creates a conflict of interest and may also trigger procurement remedies. The lawful response is a written disclosure and recusal, not merely abstaining without explanation.
Traps
Political neutrality does not strip servants of voting or association rights. Confidentiality survives leaving office for protected secrets. Do not treat every management instruction as ethical; unlawful orders must be refused and reported through proper channels.