American Civil Service Act Pros And Cons
The Pendleton Civil Service Act
According to Kaufman in 1954, “...the Civil Service was like a hammer or a saw; it would do nothing at all by itself, but would serve any purpose, wise or unwise, good or bad, to which any user put it.” In the aftermath of the American Civil War, attempts were made to reduce patronage. As a result in 1883, the Civil Service created a Civil Service Commission under the Pendleton Civil Service Act. The Pendleton Civil Service Act disesteemed the spoil system to create a merit system called the Civil Service Commission which classified government jobs and created a competitive test for them.
By the time Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828, the Spoils System was in full in which political friends and …show more content…
The Pendleton Civil Service Act was signed into law by President Chester Arthur in 1883, and was named after its sponsor Senator George H. Pendleton. The act suggested that the president appoint a standing Civil Service Commission consisted of three members who were required to organize competitive examinations and test applicants fitness for them in order to retain a federal job. In order for the president to remove any commissioner or fill any vacancy, he must have advice and consent of the senate. Federal employees may not be required to subsidize to campaign funds or be fired for political reasons . “Neutrality was a primary value (Milkovich).” The Pendleton Civil Service Act was created to reform the United States Civil Service. Although President George Washington made most of federal appointments based on merit, consecutive presidents began to deviate from this policy. Therefore, the act suggested Government jobs be awarded based on merit rather than political affiliation which was emphasized on common sense, practical information and general goals. The merit system grew as politics …show more content…
In later decades, the Pendleton Act expanded until most federal jobs were classified. When the act first went into effect, only 10 percent of the Government’s 132,000 employees were covered. “Today, more than 90 percent of the 2.7 million Federal employees are covered (United states).” Many machine politicians are still offended today and debate about which approach is a disadvantage to the democratic party. According to local leader of New York City’s Democratic Party George Plunkit, “you can’t keep an organization together without patronage.” He also stated, “men ain’t in politics for nothing. They want to get somethin’ out of it.” The merit system helped shape the government, yet many politicians are unsatisfied because they are no longer capable of election their friends or supports for government
According to Kaufman in 1954, “...the Civil Service was like a hammer or a saw; it would do nothing at all by itself, but would serve any purpose, wise or unwise, good or bad, to which any user put it.” In the aftermath of the American Civil War, attempts were made to reduce patronage. As a result in 1883, the Civil Service created a Civil Service Commission under the Pendleton Civil Service Act. The Pendleton Civil Service Act disesteemed the spoil system to create a merit system called the Civil Service Commission which classified government jobs and created a competitive test for them.
By the time Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828, the Spoils System was in full in which political friends and …show more content…
The Pendleton Civil Service Act was signed into law by President Chester Arthur in 1883, and was named after its sponsor Senator George H. Pendleton. The act suggested that the president appoint a standing Civil Service Commission consisted of three members who were required to organize competitive examinations and test applicants fitness for them in order to retain a federal job. In order for the president to remove any commissioner or fill any vacancy, he must have advice and consent of the senate. Federal employees may not be required to subsidize to campaign funds or be fired for political reasons . “Neutrality was a primary value (Milkovich).” The Pendleton Civil Service Act was created to reform the United States Civil Service. Although President George Washington made most of federal appointments based on merit, consecutive presidents began to deviate from this policy. Therefore, the act suggested Government jobs be awarded based on merit rather than political affiliation which was emphasized on common sense, practical information and general goals. The merit system grew as politics …show more content…
In later decades, the Pendleton Act expanded until most federal jobs were classified. When the act first went into effect, only 10 percent of the Government’s 132,000 employees were covered. “Today, more than 90 percent of the 2.7 million Federal employees are covered (United states).” Many machine politicians are still offended today and debate about which approach is a disadvantage to the democratic party. According to local leader of New York City’s Democratic Party George Plunkit, “you can’t keep an organization together without patronage.” He also stated, “men ain’t in politics for nothing. They want to get somethin’ out of it.” The merit system helped shape the government, yet many politicians are unsatisfied because they are no longer capable of election their friends or supports for government