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By the time Andrew Jackson became president, the federal government had begun to grow.
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Newspapers and magazines described the problems with the spoils system.
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Ulysses S. Grant, whose own administration was filled with corruption, persuaded Congress to set up the first Civil Service Commission.
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Reform efforts faltered when Congress failed to appropriate money for the new commission.
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President James A. Garfield ignored Charles Guiteau’s requests for a job in the diplomatic service.
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Congress passed the Pendleton Act, creating the present federal civil service system
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Amidst concerns about the ethical implications of federal employees working on political campaigns, Congress passed the Hatch Act, which prevents federal workers from participating in election campaigns.
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Congress revised the Hatch Act to address criticisms.
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President George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security to consolidate and improve the government’s ability to deal with the threat of international terrorism.
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example of how political prejudice can affect bureaucratic decisions
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Executive order requires all full-time political appointees to sign an ethics pledge in which they commit not to accept gifts from lobbyists or lobbying organizations
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The Dodd-Frank Act created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect Americans in financial transactions, especially mortgages, credit cards, and student loans.
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Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act; the act passed both the House and Senate unanimously.
