Which agency was established by the Civil Service Act of 1883?

The U.S. Civil Service Commission was established by the Civil Service Act of 1883 to oversee the implementation of merit-based hiring practices in the federal government. This act aimed to combat the patronage system that prevailed at the time, where government jobs were often awarded based on political connections rather than qualifications or capabilities. The Commission was tasked with conducting examinations for potential federal employees and ensuring that appointments were based on merit to enhance efficiency and integrity in government operations. This was a significant shift in how government positions were filled and laid the groundwork for the professionalization of the federal workforce.

Understanding the historical context of the Civil Service Act is crucial in recognizing its lasting impact on personnel management in the U.S. government, leading to the establishment of agencies like the Office of Personnel Management later on, but those agencies were not created by the original act itself.