Pendleton Act in the United States

Introduction to Pendleton Act (1883)

In the context of the legal history: After the assassination of Pres. Garfield by a deranged office-seeker, Congress initiated political reform to remove the spoils system. The legislation prohibited campaign contribution from federal employees and created the Civil Service Commission. The Pendleton Act did not eliminate corruption, but it was a start. One of the major drawbacks was that it forced politicians to get funds from corporations.

Pendleton Act in the U.S. Legal History

Summary

A law passed in 1883 to eliminate political corruption in the federal government, it outlawed political contributions by appointed officeholders and established the Civil Service Commission to administer competitive examinations for covered government jobs.

Resources

In the context of the legal history:

See Also

• International Treaties
• Multilateral Treaties