U.S. Civil Service and Political Patronage

Questions and Answers

What does patronage refer to?

Rewarding loyal party leaders with federal jobs (correct)

Oversight by Congress over federal agencies

Firing public office holders of a defeated political party

A federal hiring process based on merit

What is the Spoils System?

The firing of public office holders of a defeated political party and their replacement with loyalists of the newly elected party.

What did the Pendleton Civil Service Act establish?

The principle of hiring federal employees on the basis of merit rather than political affiliation.

The Hatch Act allows federal employees to be directly involved in federal political campaigns.

False Signup and view all the answers

What changes did the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 introduce?

Altered bureaucratic dismissal procedures, limited veteran preferences, and returned upper-level appointments to the president. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Senior Executive Service focus on?

Emphasizing a bureaucrat's skills and experiences. Signup and view all the answers

How many departments are there in the U.S. government?

15 departments. Signup and view all the answers

What are agencies within government departments?

Sub-units that divide goals and workload. Signup and view all the answers

What is a government corporation?

A hybrid of a government agency and a private company. Signup and view all the answers

What is the competitive service in federal employment?

Jobs that require a competitive exam or hiring process. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'go native' in a bureaucratic context?

When an appointed bureaucrat sides with their department instead of with the president. Signup and view all the answers

What is congressional oversight?

Congress's authority over departments and agencies to monitor their activities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of committee clearance?

To review and approve certain agency decisions in advance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the legislative veto?

A requirement that certain agency decisions must have congressional approval. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Patronage and Political System

Patronage rewards loyal party leaders with federal jobs, fostering political allegiance.
The Spoils System involves replacing public office holders of the defeated party with loyalists of the newly elected party.

Civil Service Acts

The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 established merit-based hiring for federal employees, reducing political patronage.
Created the merit system with competitive exams and established the Civil Service Commission to oversee this process.
The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939 and 1940, distanced federal and state employees from political involvement, prohibiting direct participation in political campaigns.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 revised bureaucrat dismissal procedures, limited veteran preferences, and centralized upper-level appointments under presidential authority.

Bureaucratic Structure

The Senior Executive Service emphasizes bureaucratic skills and experience, offering standardized salaries for executives.
There are 15 federal departments, the largest being the Department of Defense, each overseen by a Cabinet secretary.
Agencies within these departments manage specific goals and tasks, with numerous terms like divisions, bureaus, or offices describing their sub-units.

Government Corporations and Services

Government corporations blend traits of government agencies and private companies, emerging in the 1930s to interact with the private sector.
The Competitive Service includes jobs requiring examinations or competitive selection, rooted in the Pendleton Act; the Excepted Service encompasses all other positions.

Bureaucratic Dynamics

"Going native" occurs when an appointed bureaucrat aligns more closely with their agency rather than the presidential agenda.
Congressional oversight empowers Congress to monitor departments and agencies, influencing funding, operational objectives, and overall agency performance.

Funding and Legislative Control

Congress controls agency funding, determining financial resources through authorization of spending measures that outline maximum possible expenditures.
Appropriations refer to annual financial allocations for specified purposes within the federal budget.
Committee clearance allows congressional committees to review and approve agency decisions without formal legislation.
The legislative veto, established in the 1930s, enables Congress to exert control over certain agency actions requiring approval.

Description

Explore the dynamics of political patronage and the evolution of the U.S. civil service system through key acts and reforms. Understand the impact of the Spoils System and subsequent Civil Service Acts, including the Pendleton Act and the Hatch Act, on the hiring and operation of federal employees.