Asked by Mariah Roberson on Jun 14, 2024

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Verified

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was significant because it

A) ended the "spoils system."
B) was the first major revamping of the federal civil service since its creation in 1883.
C) reinstated the "spoils system."
D) cut the federal workforce by 20 percent.

Civil Service Reform Act

Legislation intended to improve the quality of public service by structuring federal employment on merit and performance rather than political affiliation.

Spoils System

A practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward.

Federal Civil Service

Employment sector composed of federal government employees who are appointed based on merit rather than political affiliation.

  • Acquire knowledge about the historical transformation and reform within the federal bureaucracy, highlighting the civil service and management tactics.
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Verified Answer

AC
Alyssa CiorlanoJun 20, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was the first major overhaul of the federal civil service system since the creation of the Pendleton Act in 1883. It aimed to create a professional, merit-based civil service, ending the patronage-based "spoils system" that had been in place for much of American history. The act established new rules for hiring, promoting, and firing federal employees, and created the Office of Personnel Management to oversee the system.