The Bureaucracy

• Bureaucrats - officials employed with government agencies
• The Age of Jackson
  • Political patronage (spoils system)
    • Administrative positions given as a reward for political support rather than solely on merit
    • Out of necessity, the bureaucracy becomes more impartial, neutral, and driven by standard operating procedures and technical expertise
• Pendleton Act, 1863
  • Creates the Civil Service Commission
    • Tasked with drawing up and enforcing rules on hiring, promotion, and tenure of office
      • Federal civil service
      • Merit based bureaucracy
        • Merit system - competitive testing, educational attainment, etc basis for hiring instead of political connections
      • Excludes the military anxd political appointments
      • Hatch Act