Spoils vs. Merit

The federal bureaucracy, since the Pendleton act passed after the assassination of President Garfield, put into place a merit based system of election for offices in the government. This act requires potential office members to take a test to make sure they are actually qualified to take an exam to prove their merit. This was not always the case. During the early stages of our nation, Presidents took advantage of the spoils system. The victor did indeed reap the benefits, for they usually appointed members of their own party, friends, or relatives to office instead of those who were the most qualified. For example, when Washington was president, he appointed mostly federalists to office. When Jefferson took over, he dismissed many of the federalists in exchange for members of his respective party. This system of patronage assured people office jobs so long as the president had their support down the road. Jackson argued that the spoils system "brought a rotation" into the government, however, this rotation often featured corruption and was not productive. The assassination of President Garfield prompted the institution of the Merit System. There are certainly examples of the spoils system today. President Obama has dished out 47 administration jobs to those who raised a significant amount of money for his election(s). Although the spoils system is still alive today, it is not as bad as it was back in the late 18th-early 19th centuries. Sources: http://www.thewire.com/national/2012/03/obama-likes-spoils-system-much-any-president/49661/