What did the Pendleton Act do?

A) Extend federal civil service protections to the states
B) Reorganize the federal government and exempt a substantial number of government employees from civil service protections
C) Increase the number of government employees selected by the spoils system
D) Establish the principle of employment on the basis of open competitive examinations
E) Establish a merit system during the Civil War

Pendleton Act

An 1883 U.S. federal law that established that positions within the federal government should be awarded based on merit instead of political affiliation.

Spoils System

The spoils system is a political practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory, rather than for their expertise.

Civil Service Protections

Safeguards for government employees that ensure stability, fairness in hiring and firing, and protection from political pressures.