Civil Service Commission

Definition

The Civil Service Commission was an independent government agency established in 1883 to oversee the federal civil service system and promote a merit-based approach to hiring and promoting government employees, in contrast to the previous patronage system.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Civil Service Commission was established in response to widespread corruption and inefficiency in the federal government under the spoils system.
2. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act gave the Civil Service Commission the power to administer competitive exams for federal jobs, rather than political appointments.
3. The Civil Service Commission played a key role in reducing the influence of political patronage in the federal government and promoting a professional, non-partisan civil service.
4. The Civil Service Commission's merit-based hiring practices were opposed by political machines and party bosses who had previously controlled the distribution of government jobs.
5. Establishing the Civil Service Commission was a major political issue in the late 19th century, as it challenged the traditional spoils system and the power of political parties.

Review Questions

• Explain how the establishment of the Civil Service Commission related to the issue of political patronage in the late 19th century.
  • The Civil Service Commission was created in response to the widespread corruption and inefficiency of the spoils system, where political parties rewarded supporters with government jobs regardless of their qualifications. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act gave the Commission the power to administer competitive exams for federal positions, reducing the influence of political patronage and party machines that had previously controlled the distribution of government jobs. This challenged the traditional power structures and was a major political issue, as it sought to professionalize the civil service and promote a merit-based approach to hiring and promotion.
• Describe the role of the Civil Service Commission in addressing the key political issues of tariffs and the gold standard in the late 19th century.
  • While the Civil Service Commission was primarily focused on civil service reform and reducing political patronage, its establishment was also connected to the broader political debates of the time, including issues such as tariffs and the gold standard. The Commission's merit-based hiring practices and efforts to depoliticize the federal government were seen by some as a way to reduce the influence of special interests and political machines that had previously shaped economic policies like tariffs. Additionally, the Commission's emphasis on professional, non-partisan civil servants may have been viewed as a way to insulate policymaking from the political pressures surrounding the gold standard debate. However, the direct connections between the Civil Service Commission and these other key political issues were not as strong as its role in addressing the issue of political patronage.
• Analyze the long-term impact of the Civil Service Commission on the structure and function of the federal government, particularly in the context of the key political issues of the late 19th century.
  • The establishment of the Civil Service Commission had a significant and lasting impact on the structure and function of the federal government. By promoting a merit-based civil service and reducing the influence of political patronage, the Commission helped to professionalize the federal bureaucracy and insulate it from the political pressures of the time. This, in turn, may have influenced the government's approach to key political issues like tariffs and the gold standard, as policymaking became less directly tied to the interests of political parties and machines. The Civil Service Commission's emphasis on a non-partisan, competent civil service also laid the groundwork for the modern administrative state, which has played a crucial role in shaping economic and social policies. While the Commission's direct impact on specific political debates of the late 19th century was limited, its long-term legacy has been the creation of a more stable, efficient, and impartial federal government that is better equipped to address complex policy challenges.

Related terms

Patronage System: The practice of the party in power appointing its supporters to government jobs, regardless of their qualifications.

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act: The 1883 law that created the Civil Service Commission and established a merit-based system for federal government hiring and promotions.

Spoils System: The practice of the winning political party rewarding its supporters with government jobs, rather than hiring based on merit.