Civil Service

local government

A form of public administration that operates closer to the citizens

civil servants

people who work for the government and provide public services

sovereign state

a country that is independent and has full control over its own government and territory

international civil servant

a person who works for an international organization

jurisdiction

the legal authority to make decisions and enforce laws

immunity of jurisdiction

the right for a person that is not resort under any national legislation

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

a document that protects the fundamental rights of people in the EU

prerogative rights

specific rights granted to certain individuals

public administration

the management of government services and public affairs

intergovernmental organization

an organization created by several goverments to work together on common goals

charter

an official document that sets out rights, principles or rules

devolve

transfer power from a central authority to a lower level

cabinet of ministers

the group of senior government ministers who make important decisions

executive branch

the part of government that carries out and enforces laws

statutory responsibility

duty required by law

quango

an organization funded by the government but operating independently from it

adopt a law

pass legislation

barrier

obstacle

border

the official line separating two countries

candidate

one of the people competing in an election

collapse

to fall down suddenly

come to an end

to finish

condition

the situation or environment in which something happens other exists

create jobs

establish workplaces

criteria

a standard that is used for judging something or for making a decision about something

currency

the system of money used in a particular country

customs duties

a tax that you must pay on something that you bring into one country from another country

defense

actions that you take to protect someone or something

economic growth

an increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period of time

elect

to choose someone by voting

energy crisis

a shortfall in or interruption to the provision of energy supplies

enlargement

the process of making something bigger

founding countries

the first six states of the EU

justice

treatment of people that is fair and morally right

market economy

an economic system

regime

a government that controls a country unfairly

reunification

the process of joining together parts of a country that were divided

rule of law

a situation in which everyone in a country is expected to obey the laws

surplus

more than necessary

the Common Market

the economic organization whose aim is to enourage free trade between its members

the Treaty of Rome

the agreement establishing the European Economic Community

trade union

an organization of workers that try

to improve pay and conditions of work

turn down

reject

upheaval

a sudden or violent change

integrity

act right

impartiality

treating everyone equally

objectivity

based on facts, not feelings

accelerated

fastened

prosperous

successful

achieving commercial outcomes

getting successful business results

delivering at pace

completing work quickly

seeing the big picture

understanding the whole situtation

building capability for all

develop everyone’s skills

delivering value for money

providing good results for the cost

transparency

being open, honest

accountability

being responsible for actions

abuse position

misuse power

spoils system

the winning political party gives government jobs to its supporters

subsequent law

law that is passed and introduced later

federal

national government

dismissal

being fired

written notice

official notification

competitive service

merit-based selection for jobs

excepted service

exempt from the normal competitive hiring process

favoritism

unfairly giving advantages to certain people