The Pendleton Act of 1883 was a civil service reform act that declared that government jobs should be awarded on merit instead of political affiliation. The act allowed for the president, by executive order to decide which positions could be subject to the act and which would not. The act created the United States Civil Service Commission to determine the rules and regulations of the act, and to enforce the merit system. The three concepts the act was based on are civil service jobs being awarded on merit through open and competitive exams, instead of political patronage. The act forbid requiring employees to make contributions to political parties, and made it unlawful to fire or demote for political means.
