Criminal Justice

Choose one of the two questions posed below. Please read the prompt carefully and make sure you address every part of it in your response.
Question 1:

How do the fundamental precepts of each approach to reform conflict with each other? Is it possible to mix approaches and why? What are the benefits and drawbacks of these approaches?

Question 2:

The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 established several features of the U.S. civil service that remain to this day. The four features outlined by the text are: government hires employees by merit; the government pays according to their positions, not their personal characteristics; government workers are protected from political interference and dismissal once in the system; and government workers have an obligation to accountability. What do you think of these four features? Which ones do you think contribute to government efficiency? What about government transparency? Why do you think they were established, and why do you think they have endured?

ANSWER

The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883

The Pendleton Act argued that Federal Government jobs be offered based on merit where the government workers will be chosen on the basis of merit (Waller, 2020). The act also stated that it was unlawful to demote or fire for political motives personnel that have been shielded by the law. The issues were raised by the citizens after widespread incompetence and corruption in the federal government departments. Additionally, the law further forbid requiring works to offer their political contributions. The four basic features aimed at guaranteeing equitable treatment for employees in government. The four basic principles include; the government pays employees according to their position; employees are hired by merit; the government workers are protected from political interference and he government worker have an obligation to accountability (Waller, 2020). These features have called for an open and efficient selection of government employees where they undertake competitive examinations during the hiring process.

Considerably, these four features are beneficial and effective to the civil service system since they contribute to the transparency and efficiency of the government. The Act has offered a permanent mechanism for federal employment on the basis of merit rather than political affiliation. These features have established fair employment practices as well as compliance with employment laws. The features have also played a significant role in ensuring that jobs are not awarded to citizens using the spoils systems which focuses on offering jobs on the basis of race, politics, origin and religion.

Ideally, the principle that sets compensation by position has set transparency as well as one that requires accountability. The principles have contributed to democratic values which include freedom, justice, search for goodness and honesty. The Act has prevented the government from becoming a spoils system where employees are accepted on the basis of how well they are known rather than their efforts. Many citizens support the principle since the result in equitable and fair hiring as well transparent compensation.

References

Krutz, G., & Waskiewicz, S. (2019). Toward a Merit-Based Civil Service. American Government 2e.

Waller, I. (2020). The Pendleton Act: Time for a Change. Tenor of Our Times, 9(1), 9.