Final answer:
A woman's appointment to a federal job after working on a campaign exemplifies political patronage, where service to a political campaign is rewarded with government positions. It reflects strategic efforts by presidents to govern effectively by aligning their administration with loyal and like-minded individuals while aiming for diversity in cabinet representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A woman spending a year working on a presidential campaign and then being appointed to a federal job afterward is an example of political patronage. This is a traditional practice where services to a political party or campaign are rewarded with appointments to government positions once the candidate is in office. Appointees tend to share the president's party affiliation and policy agenda, promoting cohesive governance and policy implementation. For example, transitions of power from President George H.W. Bush to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush to Barack Obama, and subsequent administrations have seen significant turnovers in appointees to align the administration with the new president's policy and political views. However, it's also important to note that presidents often seek to diversify their cabinet appointments, as seen in George W. Bush's and Barack Obama's cabinets, which included a mix of genders, races, and even members from the opposition party at times.
The practice of political patronage underscores the broader theme of employing political strategies to strengthen a president's ability to govern effectively. This can be observed through various actions, such as engaging in campaigns, building support networks, rewarding supporters with appointments, and leveraging state power for political gain. Presidents aim to assemble teams that can assist in implementing their agenda and reflect the country's diversity, potentially impacting foreign and domestic policies.