Week 1 Assignment (1)
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The University of Nairobi *
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MISC
Subject
Political Science
Date
Nov 24, 2024
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docx
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6
Uploaded by MagistrateFog22013
Week 1 Assignment
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
1.
The Pendleton Act of 1883: The Political Situation:
Context: The Pendleton Act was enacted at a period when the civil service was controlled
by the spoils system, which was characterized by political favoritism and corruption.
Civil Service Commission: Following President Garfield's murder, President Chester A. Arthur agitated for change, which resulted in the founding of the Civil Service Commission.
Act's Purpose:
Eliminate the Spoils System: The Pendleton Act sought to abolish the spoils system by instituting a merit-based approach to government employment.
Civil Service Professionalization: It intended to professionalize the civil service by guaranteeing that appointments and promotions were based on merit as determined by competitive exams.
Enhancements Included:
Success in Reducing Patronage: The legislation was successful in reducing patronage, restraining political favoritism, and improving the government workforce's competency (Nigro et al., 2012).
Establishment of the Merit System: It established the merit system in government service.
2.
The 1978 Civil Service Reform Act:
The political situation is as follows:
Post-Watergate period: This legislation arose against the background of the post-
Watergate period, which was characterized by widespread public distrust of government institutions.
Nixon's Executive Orders: President Nixon's efforts to concentrate personnel authority necessitated legislative action.
Act's Purpose:
Civil Service Strengthening: The Civil Service Reform Act sought to reform and enhance
the civil service system.
Merit-Based advances: It aimed to improve staff management, strengthen merit-based advances, and simplify personnel operations.
Enhancements Included:
Establishment of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM): The legislation created the
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to centralize personnel management (
Leitch and
Rist, 2020)
.
Labor-Management Relations: It addressed labor-management relations by establishing a framework for collective bargaining and resolving disputes.
3.
Evaluation and Success:
The Pendleton Act:
Corruption Control: The Pendleton Act was effective in reducing corruption related with political favoritism.
Development of the Merit System: It was effective in laying the framework for the development of the merit system, prioritizing qualifications above political ties.
1978 Civil Service Reform Act:
The Role of OPM: The establishment of OPM increased efficiency in personnel management by centralizing important responsibilities.
Implementation problems: Some problems remained, and complete fulfillment of the
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envisioned merit-based gains encountered implementation challenges.
Ongoing development: The legislation was an important step toward reforming the public
service, but more development and changes are required.
Recent Attempts by the Government:
Workforce Flexibility Act of 2004:
Goal: To attract and retain people, provided freedom in recruiting, remuneration, and performance management.
Evaluation: A mixed bag of results; enhanced flexibility but raised worries about possible
abuse.
Executive Orders of the President (for example, the 2020 Telework Enhancement Act):
Goal: To promote flexible work options, particularly telework.
Evaluation: Capable of adjusting to changing work conditions and maintaining continuity
throughout crises.
Office of Management and Budget Memorandum on Performance Management (2021):
Goal: Focuses on continual performance feedback, staff development, and results-
oriented responsibility.
Evaluation: In its early phases, with continued evaluation necessary.
Conclusion:
The Pendleton Act and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 were critical reactions to employee dissatisfaction with personnel rules. While effective in combating corruption and providing the groundwork for the meritocracy, continuous adjustments have been required. Recent measures, such as legislative acts and executive orders, indicate the government's dedication to improving personnel practices, with triumphs and failures impacting the civil service system's trajectory. In
the ever-changing world of public administration, the quest of an efficient, merit-based, and responsive civil service is a continuous undertaking.
References
Leitch, J. A., & Rist, R. C. (2020). Organizational learning at the US Office of Personnel
Management. In
Can Governments Learn?
(pp. 89-105). Routledge.
Nigro, L. G., Nigro, F. A., & Kellough, J. E. (2012).
The new public personnel administration
.
Cengage Learning.
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