The Pendleton Act

The Pendleton Act, passed in 1883, was a U.S. law that aimed to reduce government corruption by establishing a merit-based hiring system for federal jobs. Instead of hiring and promoting government workers based on political connections or favoritism, the Act created a Civil Service Commission to oversee recruitment and ensure that employment decisions were based on qualifications and performance. This reform helped promote fairness, professionalism, and accountability in government staffing, reducing the influence of patronage and political patronage systems.