Merit-based civil service examination system

Definition

A system of selecting government officials based on their abilities and skills, rather than their social status or family background. Candidates would take competitive exams to prove their qualifications for governmental positions.

Related terms

Bureaucracy: A system of government where important decisions are made by state officials rather than elected representatives.

Confucianism: An ethical and philosophical system that emphasized the importance of education, moral values, and hierarchical relationships in society.

Imperial Examination: The specific name for the merit-based civil service examination system used in imperial China.