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Section 5: Guided Reading and Review
The Civil Service
CHAPTER
15
A. As You Read
As you read Section 5, answer the questions below about changes in the manner of choosing
federal employees.
1. How did the first Presidents choose federal officials? __________________________________
The first Presidents chose federal officials on
the basis of who was best qualified for the job, but favored those who shared their political views or belonged to the
same ______________________________________________________________________
party.
2. How did Jackson choose federal officials? ____________________________________________
Jackson fired thousands of officeholders and handed out
their jobs to his own friends and supporters. Jackson believed that any person of normal intelligence was qualified to
hold ______________________________________________________________________
any government post, so he paid no attention to choosing the best person for a job.
3. What government action began civil service reform and how did it work? ________________
With the passage of the Pendleton Act, the civil service system of merit hiring began to replace the spoils system.
Classified ______________________________________________________________________
employees were hired by the Civil Service Commission on the basis of competitive examinations.
4. What two agencies run and oversee the civil service system today? Describe the functions of
each. ____________________________________________________________________________
The Office of Personnel Management recruits, hires, and trains federal employees. The Merit System
Protection ______________________________________________________________________
Board polices the merit system and hears appeals from federal workers who have complaints about
personnel ______________________________________________________________________
actions.
______________________________________________________________________
5. How has the Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993 relaxed restrictions placed by
the Hatch Act of 1939? ____________________________________________________________
In addition to allowing federal employees to vote, the 1993 act allows them to help
register ______________________________________________________________________
new voters, contribute money to parties and candidates, participate in campaigns, and hold office in a
political ______________________________________________________________________
party.
______________________________________________________________________
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B. Reviewing Key Terms
Use each key term below in a sentence that shows the meaning of the term. Possible answers below
6. spoils system ____________________________________________________________________
If I had known that this company used the spoils system and hired friends and supporters and
not ________________________________________________________________________________
necessarily those most qualified for the position, I might never have applied.
7. patronage ______________________________________________________________________
Andrew Jackson’s patronage practices rewarded friends and supporters with government jobs
rather ________________________________________________________________________________
than those most qualified.
8. register__________________________________________________________________________
After taking the civil service examination, I am hoping that I will be placed on the Office of Personnel
Management’s ________________________________________________________________________________
register of people who have passed.
9. bipartisan ______________________________________________________________________
The bipartisan committee had an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.
________________________________________________________________________________
10. civil service ______________________________________________________________________
I am trying to decide whether to take the civil service exam and apply for a job in the government.
________________________________________________________________________________
Guided Reading and Review Chapter 15 75