The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act stipulates…

The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act stipulates that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit.

A federal law of United States, established in 1883, the act (ch. 27, 22 Stat. 403) provides selection of government employees competitive exams, rather than ties to politicians or political affiliation.

It also makes it illegal to fire or demote government employees for political reasons and prohibits soliciting campaign donations on Federal government property.

To enforce the merit system and the judicial system, the law also creates the United States Civil Service Commission.

A crucial result is the shift of the parties to reliance on funding from business, since they can no longer depend on patronage hopefuls.

Started during the Chester A. Arthur administration, the Pendleton Act serves as a response to the massive public support of civil service reform that has grown following President James Garfield's assassination by Charles Julius Guiteau.

Despite his previous support of the patronage system, Arthur, nevertheless, had become an ardent supporter of civil service reform as president.

Passed into law on January 16, 1883, the Act had been written by Dorman Bridgeman Eaton, a staunch opponent of the patronage system who is later first chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission, and had been sponsored by Senator George H. Pendleton, Democratic Senator of Ohio.

However, the law will also prove to be a major political liability for Arthur.