Merit system

Merit system

The merit system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. It is the opposite of the spoils system.

History

The earliest example of a merit system dates back to the Qin and Han dynasties. In order to maintain power over a large, sprawling empire, it became necessary for the government to maintain a complex network of officials.[1] Prospective officials could come from a rural background and government positions were not restricted to the nobility. Rank was determined by merit, through the civil service examinations, and education became the key for social mobility.[1] After the fall of the Han Dynasty, the nine-rank system was established during the Three Kingdoms period. The concept of a merit system spread from China to British India during the 17th century, and then into continental Europe and the United States.[2]

The United States Civil Service utilized the Spoils System since 1828, until the assassination of United States President Garfield by a disappointed office seeker in 1881 proved its dangers. Two years later the system of appointments to the United States Federal Bureaucracy was revamped by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act which made the merit system common practice. The president can only hand out a certain number of jobs which must be approved by the Senate. The civil service system of Kentucky is named "the Merit System". The merit system was started by Robert La Follette. Almost every occupation requires the merit system.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Burbank and Cooper (2010), 51.
  2. ^ Kazin, Edwards, and Rothman (2010), 142.

References

  • Burbank, Jane and Cooper, Frederick. (2010). Empires in World History: Power and the Politics of Difference. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691127085.
  • Kazin, Michael, Edwards, Rebecca, and Rothman, Adam. (2010). The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History Volume 2. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691129711.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • merit system — System used by federal and state governments for hiring and promoting governmental employees to civil service positions on the basis of competence. Dictionary from West s Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. merit system …   Law dictionary

  • merit system — ☆ merit system n. a system of hiring and promoting people to civil service positions on the basis of merit as determined by competitive examinations …   English World dictionary

  • merit system — noun the system of employing and promoting civil servants on the basis of ability • Ant: ↑spoils system • Hypernyms: ↑system, ↑system of rules * * * noun : the system of appointing employees to office in the civil service and of promoting them… …   Useful english dictionary

  • merit system — System used by federal and state governments for hiring and promoting governmental employees to civil service positions on basis of competence. See also civil service Merit Systems Protection Board …   Black's law dictionary

  • merit system — System used by federal and state governments for hiring and promoting governmental employees to civil service positions on basis of competence. See also civil service Merit Systems Protection Board …   Black's law dictionary

  • merit system — The system in the Civil Service whereby appointments and promotions are made according to the merit and fitness rather than by way of political favor. 15 Am J2d Civ S § 20 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • merit system — noun Date: 1879 a system by which appointments and promotions in the civil service are based on competence rather than political favoritism …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • merit system — a system or policy whereby people are promoted or rewarded on the basis of ability and achievement rather than because of seniority, quotas, patronage, or the like. [1895 1900] * * * …   Universalium

  • merit system — mer′it sys tem n. gov the system or practice in which persons are hired or promoted on the basis of ability rather than patronage …   From formal English to slang

  • merit system — method for promoting employees based on their achievements …   English contemporary dictionary

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