Final answer:
The major consequence of civil service regulations was the shift from a politicized spoils system to a merit-based bureaucratic system with reduced political influence, increased focus on qualifications, and the rise of supportive organizations and regulatory federal agencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
A main consequence of civil service regulations, such as the Pendleton Act of 1883 and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, was the transformation of American bureaucracy from a spoils system based on political patronage to a merit-based system. This change reduced political influence on civil service employment and instead instituted qualifications such as competency exams.
These reforms also facilitated the rise of organizations like the National Association of All Civil Service Employees to create job security independent of political ties, and introduced federal agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to further regulate hiring practices and protect civil service employees from political victimization.