Laws, Rules & Policies
The CSC is directed and authorized by the Seattle City Charter and Seattle Municipal Code to oversee the City’s civil service system for employees. The CSC relies on these laws and creates policies of its own to carry out its work. The foundational laws and policies guiding the work of the CSC are provided below for your reference.
The CSC is a policymaking body that adopts Rules of Practice and Procedure for oversight of the civil service system. These Rules interpret and provide direction on administration of the Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter.
The Rules of Practice and Procedure are primarily focused on the adminsitration of the commission, political patronage proceedings, hearing of appeals, and review of a presiding officer's decision. Other elements of a civil service system, such as procedures for selection, discipline, classification, or termination are found in the City's Personnel Rules.
- CSC Rules of Practice and Procedure (current)
- Previous CSC Rules of Practice and Procedure (Seattle Clerk's website)
City Charter is municipal law that may only be adopted and/or revised by Seattle voters. Seattle Municipal Code is comprised of City Ordinances passed by City Council. The municipal laws that are most relevant to the CSC are:
- City of Seattle Charticle Article XVI, Personnel System and Civil Service
- Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 4.04 (see 4.04.250, 4.04.260, and 4.04.265 for municipal laws about the Civil Service Commission specifically)
- Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 4.13, Exemptions from Civil Service Systems
The Seattle Human Resources Director promulgates Rules for the administration of the City's personnel system. The City's Personnel Rules establish citywide policies about administering the City's civil service related functions - such as classification, selection, termination, discipline and appeals. They also provide guidance about other City working conditions, including workplace expectations paid and unpaid leaves, safety policies, among others.
- Current Personnel Rules
- Previous versions of City Personnel Rules (Seattle Clerk's website)
Many City employees are represented by unions, who negotiate mandatory subjects of bargaining pursuant to the Revised Code of Washington Chapter 41.56. City unions represent over 7,500 non-public safety City employees across most departments.
The CSC collaborates with the City's labor partners to ensure that union and civil service rights and interests are met in the administration of the CSC Rules of Practice and Procedures.
Union members can find out more about their conditions of employment in their collective bargaining agreement, or may call their union representative.