fonctionnaire
1
9.9
- noun
- Viewed in this light, the focal point of French administration is the cadre of hauts fonctionnaires, or high civil servants, that form an "elite corps" of trained experts who work closely with top politicians who manage the ministries and compose the government.
- hauts fonctionnaires
Examples
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The recruitment of hauts fonctionnaires in France is closely linked to its centralized educational system and competitive examination processes.
Academic text (2004) -
As a fonctionnaire, she has dedicated her career to serving the public in various administrative capacities.
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In sum, it is the restricted, merit-based, closed path to becoming a hauts fonctionnaires.
Academic text (2004) -
This is reinforced by the closed nature of the path to becoming a haut fonctionnaire, which restricts the number of entrants to the administrative elite.
Academic text (2004) -
Consequently, the statesmanship role of SES career civil servants does not resemble that of hauts fonctionnaires.
Academic text (2004) -
This facilitates the ability of the hauts fonctionnaires to function as administrative statesmen with a unique capacity to define and execute the will of the state.
Academic text (2004) -
In effect, the mobility of hauts fonctionnaires contributes to a very powerful elite network of administrative officials with homogeneous backgrounds, education, and professional experience that ensures a common vision and sense of the role of the State.
Academic text (2004) -
Another salient characteristic is that the mobility of hauts fonctionnaires extends throughout all facets of the public and private sectors in France, including leaves of absence to hold political office or work in the private sector.
Academic text (2004) -
They observe that the counterparts to French hauts fonctionnaires in the U.S. are "political appointees, not civil servants," and assert that the development of an American Higher Civil Service similar to that found in France will require broader political reform.
Academic text (2004) -
Although ministers have the prerogative to effect political appointments from the private sector as well, in practice this is a rare occurrence, as hauts fonctionnaires are permitted great mobility between the political, public, and private spheres, thus possessing a wealth of knowledge, skill, and ability far beyond their formal education and training.
Academic text (2004)
Synonyms
8
7.7
A person who has an official job in a government or large organization
How Senior
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fonctionnaire comes from the French fonction ('job' or 'duty') plus the ending -naire ('person'). It literally names someone who does a 'function', so it is used for a government worker who carries out official duties.