Examination Yuan


The Examination Yuan is in charge of validating the qualification of civil servants in the Republic of China. It is one of the five government branches of the Government of the Republic of China. Its members are appointed by the Executive Yuan and confirmed by the Legislative Yuan. Practically, it operates like a ministry of the Executive Yuan, though its members may not be removed by the President or Premier. The Examination Yuan consists of 7 to 9 members who serve 4 year terms.
As a special branch of government under the Three Principles of the People formulated by Sun Yat-sen, it may be compared with the European Personnel Selection Office of the European Union or the Office of Personnel Management of the United States of America. The Examination Yuan is based on the old Imperial examination system used in Imperial China.

History

Mainland China

After the end of Northern Expedition in 1928, the Nationalist Government set up the preparatory office of the Examination Yuan in October 1928 in which the organic law was promulgated. In May 1929, the headquarters of the Examination Yuan was inaugurated at Kuankung and Yueh Fei Temple in Nanking. In January 1930, the Examination Yuan and its subordinates Examination Committee and Ministry of Civil Service were formally established. In December 1937, the headquarters was temporarily relocated to Chungking during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the end of World War II in 1945, the headquarters was moved back to Nanking.

Taiwan

In January 1950, the headquarters were relocated temporarily to Taipei Confucius Temple in Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. In December 1951, the headquarters were moved to Muzha District, Taipei. In March 1990, the Yuheng Building of the Yuan was inaugurated. During the second revision of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China in 1992, confirmation powers of its members were transferred from the Control Yuan to the Legislative Yuan, and articles related to its role as a governing body of mainland China were abolished. In 2019, the Examination Yuan was reduced from 19 members to between 7 and 9, and terms were reduced from 6 years to 4 to coincide with presidential and legislative elections.

Organizational structure