The Examination Yuan

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

The Examination Yuan is responsible for the civil service system in the Republic of China. Specifically, the Examination Yuan oversees examination; qualification screening; security of tenure; pecuniary aid in case of death; retirement of civil servants; and all legal matters relating to the employment, discharge, performance evaluation, scale of salaries, promotion, transfer, commendation, and award of civil servants.

The examination system is applicable to all ROC civil servants, high- or low-ranking, appointed or elected; it is also applicable to Taiwanese and foreign professionals and technicians. The examination function, exercised solely by the Examination Yuan at the central government level, is separated from the executive power and is free from partisan influence.

Organization and Functions

The Examination Yuan currently has a president and 19 members, all of whom were appointed on September 1, 2002, for six-year terms by the President of the ROC with the approval of the Legislative Yuan, in accordance with Article 6 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution.

The Examination Yuan is the highest examination and personnel organization of the nation. Under the Examination Yuan are the Ministry of Examination, the Ministry of Civil Service, the Civil Service Protection and Training Commission, and the Supervisory Board of the Public Service Pension Fund. The Examination Yuan also supervises the operations of the Central Personnel Administration, established under the Executive Yuan in 1967.

The Examination Yuan Council makes policy and decides all significant matters within the jurisdiction of the Examination Yuan. Various examination boards are formed each year under the chairmanship of the president, the vice president, or a member of the Examination Yuan. Members of examination boards formulate questions for and grade the examinations. They also determine the number of successful candidates in each examination. In addition, committees may be set up to facilitate the administration of examinations and personnel projects. The Ministry of Examination oversees all civil service, professional, and technologist certification examinations. The Ministry of Civil Service is in charge of the government personnel system throughout the nation.

Examinations

There are four ways to enter the civil service system. The main types of government examinations in the ROC are Civil Service Examinations and Professional and Technician Certification Examinations, Qualifying Examinations, and the review and screening of candidates to civil service. Civil Service Examinations are divided into the following types:

• Senior Examinations for Civil Service, which are divided into three levels. Top Level is for holders of Ph.D. or persons qualified through passing equivalent categories of Second Level of the Senior Examination for at least four years. Second Level is for holders of M.A. and M.S. degrees and persons qualified through passing equivalent categories of the Third Level of the Senior Examination for at least two years. Third Level is for holders of B.A. and B.S. degrees and persons with equivalent qualification of the Junior Examination for at least three years;
• Junior Examination for Civil Service: Primarily for holders of high school diplomas or persons qualified through the Elementary Examination for at least three years;
• Elementary Examination: It imposes no restriction on the educational background of the examinees. Any ROC citizen over 18 may sign up for the examination;
• Special Examination A: Corresponding to the Top Level of the Senior Examination for Civil Service;
• Special Examination B: Corresponding to the Second Level of the Senior Examination for Civil Service;
• Special Examination C: Corresponding to the Third Level of the Senior Examination for Civil Service;
• Special Examination D: Corresponding to the Junior Examination for Civil Service;
• Special Examination E: Corresponding to the Elementary Examination for Civil Service;
• Rank Promotion Examinations;
• Qualifying Examinations. Professionals and Technologists Certification Examinations are divided into the following types:
  • Certification Examination for Elementary-grade Professionals and Technologists;
  • Certification Examination for Junior-grade Professionals and Technologists;
  • Certification Examination for Senior-grade Professionals and Technologists;
  • Special Certification Examinations for Professionals and Technologists: including tests for merchant seamen, harbor pilots, ship surveyors, crew of fishing vessels, ship radiogram operators, doctors of Chinese medicine, and nutritionists, psychologists, respiratory therapists medical inspectors, fire fighting facility surveyor, clearing customs agents, insurance agents, realtors, certified social workers, realty appraisers and other professionals and technologists.

Examinations for senior and junior civil servants are conducted every year, every other year, or whenever necessary. Categories of personnel needed, subjects to be tested, and dates are announced by the Ministry of Examination two months before the examination.

Civil Servants

There were 376,128 civil servants in the ROC at the end of 2003. They are well-educated, with 35.45 percent holding college degrees or higher. Although the majority-64.34 percent-are male, an increasing number of women have joined the civil service in recent years.

Unlike the political appointees whom they serve, civil servants are classified into senior (grades 10-14), intermediate (grades 6-9), or junior (grades 1-5) levels. The 14 levels of administration reflect an employee's abilities, experience, and seniority. Salary increases with grade, and civil servants at grade 14 can earn up to five times that of those at grade one. Each year civil servants are reviewed by their superiors. Those who receive good reviews receive an annual increase in grade. However, for those who are in positions ranked at the level of grade 5, or 9, it is necessary for them to either pass a difficult civil service exam or training program for promotion in order to enter grades six and ten.

Protection for the Rights and Interests of Civil Servants

Protecting the interest of the civil servants is the responsibility of the Examination Yuan. The Civil Service Protection and Training Commission was set up to integrate civil service training resources and to enhance inter-governmental agencies cooperation.

Under the Commission are the Department of Protection, the Department of Training, the Department of Protection for Local Civil Servants, and the National Civil Service Institute.

Public Service Pension Fund

In the past, the public functionary retirement pension and compensation for death, disease and injury was fully covered by government spending. Because of the rising payment levels, longer life span, growing number of retirees and compensation beneficiaries, and increasing government expenditures on such pension and compensation, this became a budgetary burden. In 1995, the "pay-as-you-go" system was transformed into a benefit system that requires joint contribution by the government and civil servants. In May 1995, the Supervisory Board and Management Board were set up to implement the new system.

The Supervisory Board of the Public Service Pension Fund is responsible for reviewing, supervising and appraising revenue, expenditure, management, and operation. There are 13 members on this board, representing different government agencies. They are the secretaries-general of the Executive Yuan, the Judicial Yuan, and the Examination Yuan, as well as chiefs of the Ministry of Civil Service and other government agencies. Representatives of the military and education system are also included. Five to seven legal and financial experts may be appointed as counselors to supervise the operation of the Board.