The civil service of the People's Republic of China consists of civil servants of all levels who run the day-to-day affairs in mainland China.

Levels

Civil servants are found in a well-defined system of ranks. The rank of a civil servant determines what positions he/she may assume in the government or the military, how much political power he/she gets, and the level of benefits in areas such as transportation and healthcare.

According to the Temporary Regulations for National Civil Servants (国家公务员暂行条例), civil servants are put into a total of fifteen levels. The levels are:

• Premier of the People's Republic of China, Level 1
• Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China and members of the State Council, Levels 2-3
• Leading roles of ministries or equivalents (正部级), or of provinces or equivalents (省级), Levels 3-4
• Assisting roles of ministries or equivalents (副部级), or of provinces or equivalents (副省级), Levels 4-5
• Leading roles of departments or equivalents (正司级 / 正厅级), or of prefectures or equivalents (地级), or counsels (巡视员) Levels 5-7
• Assisting roles of departments or equivalents (副司级 / 副厅级), of prefectures or equivalents (副地级), or assistant counsels (助理巡视员) Levels 6-8
• Leading roles of divisions or equivalents (正处级), of counties or equivalents (县级), or consultants (调研员), Levels 7-10
• Assisting roles of divisions or equivalents (副处级), of counties or equivalents (副县级), or assistant consultants (助理调研员), Levels 8-11
• Leading roles of sections or equivalents (正科级), of townships or equivalents (乡级), Levels 9-12
• Assisting roles of sections or equivalents (副科级), of townships or equivalents (副乡级), Levels 9-13
• Staff members (科员), Levels 9-14
• Clerks (办事员), Levels 10-15

History

China has had a tradition of maintaining a large and well-organized civil service. In ancient times eligibility for employment in the civil service was determined by an Imperial examination system.

See also

• People's Republic of China
• Politics of China
• Political position ranking of the People's Republic of China
• Political divisions of China