PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT JANUARY 1883 PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT U.S GOV'T LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYMENT U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION ECONOMY AND LABOR CONGRESS PASSED THE PENDLETON CIVIL SERVICE ACT IN JANUARY 1883 SENATOR GEORGE PENDLETON OF OHIO SPONSORED THE ACT AND PRESIDENT CHESTER A ARTHUR SIGNED IT INTO LAW THE ACT PROVIDED FOR OPEN COMPETITION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT WHICH WOULD NOT BE BASED ON RACE RELIGION POLITICS OR NATIONAL ORIGIN BEFORE THE ACT WAS PASSED FEDERAL JOBS WERE USUALLY AWARDED AS POLITICAL FAVORS OBTAINING A FEDERAL JOB WAS OFTEN BASED MORE ON POLITICS THAN A CANDIDATE'S MERIT AND QUALIFICATIONS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR WIDESPREAD GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION HAD SIGNALED THE NEED FOR CHANGE WHEN AN APPLICANT REJECTED FOR A FEDERAL POSITION ASSASSINATED PRESIDENT JAMES A GARFIELD CONGRESS RESPONDED BY PASSING THIS LAW WHICH ESTABLISHED THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION THE COMMISSION'S RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO ESTABLISH A FAIR METHOD OF HIRING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES INITIALLY THE LAW APPLIED TO ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF CIVILIAN FEDERAL WORKERS IT CURRENTLY APPLIES TO CLOSE TO 90 PERCENT OF CIVILIAN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT NOW PERFORMS THE DUTIES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
