Civil Service Act
- A regulation that established the system of permanent federal employment based on merit, as opposed to political party affiliation. This piece of legislation was the result of civil service reform issues in the 1882 midterm elections. It was passed by Congress in January of 1883, paving the way for the fair selection of government employees, managed by a Civil Service Commission. It ensured the right of citizens to compete for federal appointment, without considering their politics, religion, race, or national origin. Initially, the act covered only about 10 percent of federal positions, but pretty much every subsequent President expanded its coverage. By 1990, over 90 percent of federal employees had protection under the Act
- Under the Civil Service Act, the hiring process for government positions is based on merit, not political alignment.
- The Civil Service Act of 1883 was pivotal in the reform of government employment procedures.
- Through the extensions of the Civil Service Act, a greater percentage of federal employees have job protection.
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