Civil Service Competition Examination (Armenia CSO)

According to Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, which of the following characteristics officially defines the Republic of Armenia?

• AA sovereign, democratic, social state governed by the rule of law
• BA presidential, federal, secular state with direct democracy
• CA confederate, neutral, socialist state with a parliamentary mandate
• DA semi-presidential, unitary, autonomous state governed by common law

Under Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, what is declared to be the highest value in the Republic of Armenia?

• AThe state sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic
• BThe human being, their dignity, fundamental rights and freedoms
• CThe constitutional supremacy of state administrative bodies
• DEconomic prosperity and public order within the state

According to Article 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, on what foundational principle is state power exercised in Armenia?

• AConcentration of authority in the Prime Minister's Cabinet
• BSeparation and balance of legislative, executive, and judicial powers
• CSubordination of local self-government to central ministries
• DUnification of executive and judicial functions under the President

Under Article 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia (the Principle of Lawfulness), which rule strictly governs the actions of state and local self-government bodies and officials?

• AThey may perform any action that is not expressly prohibited by international treaties
• BThey are entitled to perform only such actions for which they are authorised under the Co…
• CThey possess discretionary inherent powers whenever public welfare requires intervention
• DThey may issue binding secondary acts on any matter within their general administrative j…

What is the official state language of the Republic of Armenia as declared in Article 20 of the Constitution?

• AArmenian and Russian equally
• BArmenian
• CEastern Armenian and Western Armenian with English as official working language
• DArmenian with regional minority co-official languages

Under the 2015 constitutional framework of Armenia, what is the role and status of the President of the Republic (Article 123)?

• AThe chief executive who determines domestic and foreign state policy
• BThe head of state who observes the compliance with the Constitution
• CThe commander-in-chief of armed forces during peacetime and wartime
• DThe leader of the parliamentary majority with direct decree powers

How is the President of the Republic of Armenia elected and for what term length under Article 124 and 125 of the Constitution?

• ADirect popular election for a term of 5 years, renewable once
• BElected by the National Assembly for a term of 7 years, without the right to be re-elected
• CAppointed by the Prime Minister with approval of the Supreme Judicial Council for 6 years
• DElected by an electoral college of community mayors for a 4-year term

According to Article 146 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, which body is the supreme body of executive power that develops and implements domestic and foreign policy?

• AThe Security Council of the Republic of Armenia
• BThe Government of the Republic of Armenia
• CThe Office of the President of the Republic
• DThe Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly

Under Article 152 of the Constitution of Armenia, who determines the main guidelines of Government policy, directs the activities of the Government, and coordinates the work of Government members?

• AThe President of the Republic
• BThe Prime Minister
• CThe President of the National Assembly
• DThe Minister of Justice

What is the minimum number of deputies (Members of Parliament) composing the National Assembly of Armenia under Article 88 and 89 of the Constitution?

• AExactly 75 deputies elected under a majoritarian single-member system
• BAt least 101 deputies elected through a proportional electoral system
• C131 deputies divided equally between regional districts and party lists
• D90 deputies with 15 deputies appointed by the President

Under Article 168 of the Constitution, which body has the exclusive constitutional authority to determine the compliance of laws and international treaties with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia?

• AThe Court of Cassation
• BThe Constitutional Court
• CThe Supreme Judicial Council
• DThe Administrative Court of Appeal

What is the primary constitutional role of the Supreme Judicial Council under Article 173 of the Constitution, and how is it composed?

• ADrafting criminal codes and supervising prosecution proceedings, with members appointed b…
• BAn independent state body guaranteeing the independence of courts and judges, composed of…
• CAppointing the Prime Minister in cases of cabinet collapse, with members drawn from the p…
• DServing as the court of final appeal in civil and administrative litigation, staffed by t…

According to Article 191 of the Constitution, what is the role and term of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia?

• AAn executive minister appointed by the Prime Minister for a 4-year term
• BAn independent official who observes the protection of human rights and freedoms, elected…
• CA judicial magistrate elected by the Supreme Judicial Council for a 10-year term
• DA parliamentary committee chairperson serving concurrently with parliament

Under Article 179 of the Constitution of Armenia, what is the basic unit of local self-government in the territorial organization of Armenia?

• AThe Province (Marz)
• BThe Community (Hamaynk)
• CThe Administrative District (Varchakan Shrjan)
• DThe Regional Prefecture (Prefektura)

Who heads regional state governance in the provinces (Marzer) of Armenia under Article 160 of the Constitution?

• ALocally elected provincial councils
• BGovernors (Marzpets) appointed and dismissed by the Government
• CCivil service regional coordinators appointed by the CSO
• DPresidents of provincial courts of first instance

According to Article 5 of the Constitution of Armenia (The Hierarchy of Legal Norms), which statement is correct?

• ARatified international treaties have legal force superior to the Constitution
• BThe Constitution has supreme legal force; laws must comply with constitutional laws, and…
• CGovernment decrees possess equal legal force to statutory laws enacted by parliament
• DConstitutional laws are subordinate to ordinary civil and administrative codes

Under Article 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia (Freedom of Assembly), which statement correctly describes the right and the formalities attached to it?

• AOnly citizens of Armenia may assemble, and only with prior written police authorisation
• BEveryone may freely participate in and organise peaceful, unarmed assemblies; outdoor ass…
• COnly registered political parties and officially recognised trade unions may organise ass…
• DOnly permanent residents who have lived in the community for one year may assemble

According to Article 51 of the Constitution of Armenia, what right does everyone have regarding state and local self-government bodies?

• AThe right to receive immediate monetary compensation for any administrative delay
• BThe right to receive information and get familiar with documents relating to the activiti…
• CThe right to veto administrative decrees through local public petitions
• DThe right to demand the dismissal of public servants without judicial review

Under Article 73 of the Constitution of Armenia, what rule governs the retroactive effect of laws and other legal acts?

• AAll newly adopted laws apply retroactively to all pending legal disputes
• BLaws and other legal acts worsening a person's legal status shall not have retroactive fo…
• CRetroactive application is mandatory for tax increases enacted within the fiscal year
• DLaws may apply retroactively only if approved by a national referendum

According to Article 198 of the Constitution, what is the role and constitutional status of the Audit Chamber (Hashvekadzh Palat) of Armenia?

• AA commercial bank regulating the state budget deficit
• BAn independent state body auditing the lawful and efficient use of state and municipal bu…
• CA sub-division of the Ministry of Finance conducting daily tax audits
• DA parliamentary political group evaluating prime ministerial expenditures

Under Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia 'On Civil Service' (HO-205-N), how is civil service defined?

• AElective political activity carried out by members of parliament and cabinet ministers
• BA merit-based professional activity characterised by career advancement, requiring politi…
• CCommercial management of state-owned commercial companies and joint ventures
• DCivic volunteer participation in municipal welfare and community programmes

Under Article 6 of the Law on Civil Service (HO-205-N), into which groups and subgroups are civil service positions classified?

• AFour groups — highest, chief, leading and junior positions — each divided into three subg…
• BTwo groups — leading positions (subgroups 1 to 5) and professional positions (subgroups 1…
• CThree groups — permanent, contractual and auxiliary positions
• DTwo groups — political positions and administrative positions, each divided into five sub…

What is the document that defines the specific functions, rights, duties, and competency requirements for each civil service position in Armenia?

• ACivil Service Identity Card
• BJob Passport (Job Description / Pashtoni Andznagir)
• CMinisterial Working Protocol
• DEmployment Record Book (Ashkhatankayin Grotguyk)

Under the Law on Civil Service, which administrative body coordinates civil service policy, develops unified methodologies, and organizes centralized rating testing in Armenia?

• AThe Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
• BThe Civil Service Office (CSO) of the Prime Minister's Staff
• CThe Supreme Council of State Administration
• DThe Staff Management Department of the National Assembly

Under Article 8 part 2 of Law HO-205-N, who has the right to hold a civil service position in Armenia?

• AArmenian citizens proficient in Armenian and in at least two foreign languages
• BCitizens of the Republic of Armenia who meet the requirements of the job description for…
• CAny permanent resident of the Eurasian Economic Union who is fluent in Armenian
• DArmenian citizens with at least five years of continuous residence in Yerevan

Article 8 of the Law on Civil Service excludes from a competition anyone caught by Article 14 of the Law on Public Service. Which of the following is a disqualification listed in that Article 14?

• ABeing a member of a non-governmental human rights organisation
• BHaving a conviction for a crime that has not been cancelled or expired in the prescribed…
• CHolding an academic degree awarded by a foreign university
• DHaving previously resigned voluntarily from an administrative post

Under Article 17 of Law HO-205-N, what probation period applies to a person who takes office in the civil service for the first time as a result of a competition?

• AA flat six months for every civil service position
• B12 months for the group of leading positions, 9 months for professional subgroups 1-5, an…
• CThree months, extendable once by the General Secretary to a maximum of six
• DNo probation applies where the person was appointed through a competition

Under Article 10 of the Law on Civil Service and Government Decision N 1554-N, how are external and internal competitions for a vacant civil service position structured?

• ABoth types consist of a single unstructured interview conducted by the relevant minister
• BAn external competition is held in two stages — electronic testing then a structured inte…
• CBoth types are decided by anonymous lottery among applicants who meet the job description
• DBoth types require a three-year unpaid internship followed by an oral examination

Article 8 part 1 of the Law on Civil Service lists the routes by which a civil service position may be held. Which set of routes does it actually name?

• AOnly an external competition, in every case without exception
• BCompetition results, a rating list, transfer, reorganisation or structural change, the pe…
• CA vacancy standing unfilled for more than ten calendar days, after which the department h…
• DSeniority alone, with the longest-serving applicant in the body taking the post automatic…

Under Article 18 of the Law on Civil Service, how often is a civil servant's performance evaluated and who carries out the evaluation?

• AEvery five years, by a commission of the Civil Service Office
• BOnce a year by the immediate supervisor, with a current evaluation at the end of each sem…
• COnly when a disciplinary violation is formally investigated, by the General Secretary
• DOnce at the end of probation and never thereafter

Under Article 37 part 3 of the Law on Civil Service, what happens if a civil servant's annual performance evaluation results fall below the level set by the Government for two consecutive years?

• AThe civil servant is automatically promoted to an advisory position without supervisory d…
• BThe official competent to appoint to the position becomes entitled — but is not obliged —…
• CThe civil servant's salary is automatically reduced by 5 percent for one month
• DThe civil servant must be reassigned to another state body of equal rank

Under Article 19 of the Law on Civil Service, how is the professional training of civil servants organised, and what marks a civil servant as trained?

• ACivil servants are forbidden from taking courses during working hours
• BTraining follows an individual programme built from a needs assessment run alongside the…
• CTraining is optional and self-funded by the civil servant, with no state involvement
• DCivil servants must pass an annual written examination in international law

Article 21 of the Law on Civil Service splits disciplinary penalties into light and severe. Which option states that split correctly?

• ALight: verbal warning and a fine payable to the supervisor. Severe: transfer to another r…
• BLight: warning and reprimand. Severe: severe reprimand, a decrease in salary of up to 20…
• CLight: detention of up to 15 days. Severe: community service and a public apology
• DLight: demotion by one subgroup. Severe: demotion by three subgroups and permanent loss o…

Under Article 21 part 9 of Law HO-205-N, after what period is a civil servant considered not to have been subjected to a disciplinary penalty, provided no new penalty is imposed?

• AThree months for every penalty
• BSix months for a light penalty and one year for a severe penalty
• COne year for every penalty without distinction
• DThree years for a warning and five years for a severe reprimand

Under the Law on Public Service (HO-206-N), what outside paid activities are strictly PERMITTED for a civil servant or public servant in Armenia?

• ACommercial trading, real estate brokerage, and retail business operations
• BScientific, educational (pedagogical) and creative work only
• CManaging a private joint-stock company during evening hours
• DRepresenting private commercial clients in administrative proceedings before their own ag…

Under Article 29 of the Law on Public Service (HO-206-N), a permissible gift such as one received during an official visit becomes state or community property once its value exceeds which threshold?

• AAMD 20,000
• BAMD 60,000
• CAMD 150,000
• DThere is no threshold — every permissible gift stays with the recipient

What must a civil servant do under Article 33 of Law HO-206-N when a situation arises where their private interest may influence the impartial execution of their official duties (Conflict of Interest)?

• AConceal the interest and proceed to decide the matter secretly
• BSubmit a written statement on the circumstances to their superior or immediate supervisor…
• CRequest financial compensation from the affected private party
• DDelegate the decision verbally to a subordinate while giving informal instructions

Article 3 part 2 of the Law on Civil Service says civil service is organised on the principles of Article 12 of the Law on Public Service. Which of the following is NOT one of the principles listed there?

• ARule of law and effectiveness of public service
• BStability of public service based on merit-based career advancement
• CLoyalty to the governing party and delivery of its election manifesto
• DEqual access to public service for citizens based on their professional knowledge and com…

Under Article 20 of Law HO-205-N, which statement about incentives and the highest class ranks of the civil service is correct?

• AEvery civil servant is automatically awarded a class rank on completing each three years…
• BIncentives include gratitude, a monetary reward, a token, a certificate of honour, additi…
• CIncentives may be granted only by the Civil Service Office, and class ranks only by the N…
• DThe only lawful incentive is a monetary reward, capped at one month's base salary

Under Article 37 part 2 of Law HO-205-N, which of the following terminates the powers of a civil servant?

• ATermination of citizenship of the Republic of Armenia
• BRefusal to vote for a specific party in national elections
• CPublishing a peer-reviewed scientific paper on administrative law
• DParticipating in a weekend charitable community cleanup

Under Article 23 of Law HO-205-N, what is the legal position of a civil servant when their body is reorganised or structurally changed?

• AReorganisation is itself a ground for dismissal, and the civil servant leaves with no off…
• BReorganisation is not in itself a ground for dismissal; the civil servant is reappointed…
• CThe civil servant is automatically transferred to a judicial position of equal rank
• DThe civil servant must be paid the full salary they would have earned until retirement, i…

Article 16 of the Law on Civil Service divides the power to appoint and dismiss civil servants three ways. Which option states that division correctly?

• AThe Minister appoints every civil servant in the ministry personally
• BThe Prime Minister appoints General Secretaries; the head of the relevant body appoints c…
• CThe Civil Service Office appoints all civil servants across the state administration
• DThe Chairperson of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption approves every civil s…

Under Article 30 of Law HO-205-N, what leave is a civil servant entitled to?

• A10 working days of annual leave and no additional leave
• B20 working days of annual leave plus four working days of additional leave, with up to 30…
• C45 working days of annual leave plus a three-month paid sabbatical
• D14 calendar days of annual leave, which must be taken in the winter months

Under Article 20 of the Law on Public Service, what must a public servant do on receiving an assignment that contradicts the Constitution or laws, or falls outside the powers of the person giving it?

• AExecute the assignment immediately and destroy the written record of it
• BImmediately notify the giver of the assignment or that person's immediate supervisor in w…
• CDemand additional payment before executing the assignment
• DResign from the civil service without making any report

Under Article 4 of the Law on Public Service (HO-206-N), how are public positions classified?

• AInto federal, regional, district and municipal positions
• BInto state and community positions; state positions are political, administrative, autono…
• CInto elected, appointed, contractual and auxiliary positions
• DInto four ranks numbered from first to fourth by seniority

Which of the following positions is an example of an 'Autonomous Position' (inknavar pashton) under the Law on Public Service?

• AMinister of Economy
• BThe Human Rights Defender, a judge, or a member of an independent or autonomous state body
• CAdvisor to the Prime Minister
• DChief of Staff to the Prime Minister

What is the legal status of an 'Advisor to a Minister' under the Law on Public Service?

• APermanent civil servant protected against ministerial change
• BDiscretionary position (hayetsoghakan pashton): the holder carries out the assignments of…
• CAutonomous statutory officer appointed by parliament
• DPolitical position requiring parliamentary confirmation