While the Democratic party may have lost the Civil War, it has won the battle to control the Civil Service [[bureaucracy]]. Since the end of Reconstruction in 1876 and passage of the 1882 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, the Democratic party is no longer dependent on the spoils system and winning elections to maintain its power. This control of the unelected government offices is the source of the Democratic party's power. Handing out government goodies by an ever expanding army of Democrat civil servants is the the key to electoral success for Democrat office holders. Democrats call themselves, "the party of government." | While the Democratic party may have lost the Civil War, it has won the battle to control the Civil Service [[bureaucracy]]. Since the end of Reconstruction in 1876 and passage of the 1882 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, the Democratic party is no longer dependent on the spoils system and winning elections to maintain its power. This control of the unelected government offices is the source of the Democratic party's power. Handing out government goodies by an ever expanding army of Democrat civil servants is the the key to electoral success for Democrat office holders. Democrats call themselves, "the party of government." |