Final answer:
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 established the merit system through which bureaucratic personnel had to be qualified based on Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). This act led to further reforms and the creation of the Office of Personnel Management and the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1883, the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act was passed to create the merit system for staffing the bureaucracy. It required bureaucratic personnel to be qualified based on their abilities to demonstrate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) that match those required for the position
The Pendleton Act established the Civil Service Commission which was responsible for ensuring that hiring, retention, and promotion within federal government jobs were based on merit and qualified examinations.
Later reforms, including the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, created the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to further refine and uphold the principles of merit-based civil service.