Before the Civil Service Act of 1883, political appointments were handled in a variety of ways. In some cases, they were made by the President himself or herself. Other times, it was done through Congress or even by committee. There are many factors that can determine how successful an appointment is going to be – and we will explore them all in this blog post. The Civil Service Act of 1883 was a landmark piece of legislation in the history of American governance. It sought to make federal employment more meritocratic and less political by preventing hiring or firing from being determined on partisan grounds. The act is what we know today as the Merit System – it established civil service positions, eliminated patronage appointments, created an examination system for hiring new employees, set standards for job performance and conduct, limited outside income that certain government officials could earn, and required all applicants be considered based on their qualifications without undue consideration given to connections with either party. – — //end content// –” After the Civil Service Act of 1883: How Were Government Appointments Handled?” This blog
