Final answer:
The American government bureaucracy staffing is based on the merit system, which evaluates employees based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities, overseen by the OPM and MSPB.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chief personnel system used in staffing the American government bureaucracy today is based on the merit system, which evaluates potential employees based on their Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). This system was formalized with legislation such as the Pendleton Act of 1883, which transitioned the bureaucracy from a spoils system to a merit-based one. The goal of these hiring practices and pay systems is to ensure that the most competent and qualified individuals are appointed. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), both created by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, play critical roles in maintaining this system by overseeing recruitment and addressing any wrongdoings within agencies, respectively.