Pendleton Act
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The U.S. Civil Service established a merit system for federal government workers with the Pendleton Act (1883). This ended the "spoils system" (in which political friends and supporters were rewarded with Government positions) for many government jobs. [1]
The act was steered through Congress by long-time reformer Senator George Hunt Pendleton of Ohio, following the assassination of President James A. Garfield by a disgruntled job seeker.