Final answer:
The central feature of the civil service system is the merit-based, nonpolitical employment and promotion, which assesses candidates based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities for a specific job.
Step-by-step explanation:
Central Feature of the Civil Service System
The central feature of the civil service system is merit-based, nonpolitical employment and promotion. This system, which evolved from the Pendleton Act of 1883, was designed to protect civil service employees from managerial abuse and to make the bureaucracy more efficient. Civil service positions are advertised based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed for the job. For example, a budget analyst position would list KSAs such as experience with financial systems and knowledge of budgetary regulations. The merit system ensures that individuals are assessed and hired based on their ability to demonstrate KSAs that match the requirements. This shift from the spoils system to a merit-based system was aimed at reducing the impact of politics on civil service, requiring applicants to pass exams, and creating a more stable and effective government work force with the establishment of the Civil Service Commission.