Which Civil Service Reform Act created a merit-based system for hiring federal employees through competitive examinations?

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Multiple Choice

Which Civil Service Reform Act created a merit-based system for hiring federal employees through competitive examinations?

Explanation:
The key idea here is establishing a hiring process based on merit rather than political connections. The Pendleton Act of 1883 did exactly that by creating the federal civil service system and requiring competitive examinations for many government positions. It also set up the Civil Service Commission to oversee hiring and protect employees from political coercion, moving away from the spoil system toward a professional, merit-based bureaucracy. While later reforms continued or reshaped the civil service, the Pendleton Act is the one that first introduced and entrenched the merit-based, exam-driven hiring approach.

The key idea here is establishing a hiring process based on merit rather than political connections. The Pendleton Act of 1883 did exactly that by creating the federal civil service system and requiring competitive examinations for many government positions. It also set up the Civil Service Commission to oversee hiring and protect employees from political coercion, moving away from the spoil system toward a professional, merit-based bureaucracy. While later reforms continued or reshaped the civil service, the Pendleton Act is the one that first introduced and entrenched the merit-based, exam-driven hiring approach.

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