ADVANCED AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

 The CIVIL SERVICE—composed of those civilian employees who perform the administrative work of government  2.7 million people work for the Federal Government  Only about 300,000 work in the Washington, D.C. area  The President appoints the highest ranking people  All other jobs are covered by Civil Service

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE  Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 is the only direct mention of civil service in the Constitution (p. 437)  THE BEGINNINGS  1789—George Washington knew the success of the government would depend on whom he appointed to office

 Jefferson believed that while appointees should be well qualified they should also share the views of the person making the appointments  THE SPOILS SYSTEM  The practice of giving offices and other favors of government to political supporters and friends

 PATRONAGE—the practice of giving jobs to supporters and friends—mainly at the local level  President Jackson defended his system:  1) Any normally intelligent person can fill government jobs  2) There should be a “rotation” so that more people get to serve in the government

 3) Long service and lead to tyranny and inefficiency  4) People are entitled to have the party they put in power control all office from top to bottom  THE MOVEMENT TO REFORM  Reform did not come until the assassination of President Garfield by a disgruntled office seeker

 President Arthur pushed the PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT of 1883  THE PENDLETON ACT  Used “Merit”—the quality of one’s work—the basis for hiring, promotion, and other personnel actions  Set up two categories: classified & unclassified

 All hiring in the classified category was based on merit  That quality would be based on “practical” examinations given by the Civil Service Commission  About 10% of government jobs fell into this category but the President could add more  1909—classified jobs were about 2/3 of the total  Today about 90% of all jobs are covered by the merit system

THE CIVIL SERVICE TODAY  The main goal is to eliminate the spoils system  THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT  Created in 1978  Independent agency in the Executive Branch  Clearinghouse for all people wanting to work for the government

 PAY AND BENEFITS  Minority groups and women are well represented in the civil service but usually in lower end jobs  Women hold about 50% of all white-collar jobs but only about 10% of the highest paid positions  Congress sets pay and other job conditions

 Lower paying government jobs compare well with the private sector  Top level federal jobs will never compete dollar-for-dollar with top private sector positions

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES  Several laws place restrictions on political activities for government employees  HATCH ACT of 1939—allows workers to vote in elections but they cannot take part in partisan political activities  FEDERAL EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ACT of 1993  Federal workers can:  --vote

 --help register new voters  --contribute money to political campaigns and parties  --participate in campaigns  --hold office in a political party  Workers CANNOT:  --run for office in a partisan election  --engage in party work on government property or while on the job

 --collect political contributions from subordinates or the general public  --use a government position to influence an election  THE END