Pendleton Act

The Pendleton Act, enacted in 1883, was a U.S. law that reformed government hiring practices to reduce favoritism and corruption. Instead of awarding jobs based on political connections, it established a merit-based system where government employees are selected and promoted based on their skills and performance. It also created the Civil Service Commission to oversee fair hiring and prevent political appointments, promoting a more efficient, qualified, and non-partisan federal workforce. This law marked a significant step toward professionalizing government service and reducing the influence of political patronage.