civil servant
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civil servant
A person who has a public-law employment and loyalty relationship with the state or another public-law body and performs sovereign public duties.
Als Beamter im Finanzamt prüft er die Steuererklärungen.
As a civil servant at the tax office, he checks tax returns.
The word 'Beamter' is closely related to 'das Amt' (office / public office). An 'Amt' is an official position or an authority in the public service. So a 'Beamter' is literally a person who holds such an office.
Er hat ein hohes Amt im Außenministerium.
He holds a high office in the Foreign Ministry.
'Der Beamte' is a noun, but it is declined like an adjective. After the definite article, it always ends in '-en' in the genitive, dative, and accusative. This declension type is often a challenge for learners.
Das ist das Büro des Beamten.
That is the civil servant's office.
In Germany, the status of 'Beamter' has a special legal and social significance. It is often connected with a secure job for life ('Verbeamtung auf Lebenszeit', appointment as a civil servant for life) and a special duty of loyalty toward the state.
Viele Lehrer in Deutschland sind verbeamtet.
Many teachers in Germany are civil servants.
employee
Beamter and Angestellter can both refer to people who work in a government office and perform tasks there. Beamter, however, refers to a public-law service and loyalty relationship with the state or a public-law body. Angestellter refers to an employment relationship in return for a salary. Use Beamter only for this specific status; otherwise, Angestellter is appropriate for the employed person.
Der Beamte bearbeitet den Antrag im Rahmen seines öffentlich-rechtlichen Dienstverhältnisses.
The civil servant processes the application as part of his public-law service relationship.
Der Angestellte bearbeitet den Antrag im Rahmen seines Arbeitsverhältnisses gegen Gehalt.
The employee processes the application as part of his salaried employment.
