The civil service is the permanent administrative arm of the government, composed of non-elected, career officials who remain in office regardless of changes in political leadership.

The civil service has several key features that ensure a government continues to function smoothly even when political leaders change:

• Permanence: Unlike elected officials (the political class) whose tenure is limited by elections, civil servants have permanent careers and job security.

• Institutional Memory: Because they serve for long periods, civil servants preserve the "memory" of how government programs operate to provide stability during political transitions.

• Political Neutrality: Civil servants are expected to be non-partisan, serving whichever government is in power with equal dedication to ensure no breakdown in state activities.

• Policy Implementation: While politicians formulate policies, the civil service is the "engine room" that actually translates those policies into concrete actions and public services.