Pendleton Civil Service Act

(1883) U.S. legislation establishing the modern civil-service system of permanent federal employment based on merit. Public demand for civil-service reform to replace the system based on political party affiliation (the spoils system) resulted in a bill sponsored by Sen. George Pendleton, which provided for selection of government employees by competitive examination administered by a civil-service commission. Only 10% of government jobs were originally covered by the law, but successive Congresses expanded its scope to include more than 90% of federal employees.