Final answer:
The federal civil service is a diverse employment system aimed at merit-based hiring for various government positions that historically provided opportunities for minorities, such as African Americans. It includes competitive, excepted, and senior executive services, and has evolved to emphasize qualifications over traditional exams, although some jobs still require specific civil service exams.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil service system is comprised of various categories of employment in the federal government, primarily including competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive service. Historically, the civil service has been seen as a more merit-based and egalitarian sector for employment, which is why certain groups, such as African Americans, have been overrepresented in the federal workforce compared to their share of the overall population. Historically, civil service reform efforts have aimed to ensure that civil service positions are filled based on merit rather than political affiliation, with a particular emphasis on exams, qualifications, and the establishment of civil service organizations.
Competitive service positions are filled through a merit-based system overseen by Congress and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), ensuring a fair hiring process and consideration primarily of work history, education, and performance on civil service exams where required. Excepted service jobs are exempt from these hiring regulations and can set their own qualifications and pay rates. Finally, the senior executive service targets experienced leaders with demonstrated executive core qualifications.
Over the years, the civil service exam has evolved, with roughly eighty-five percent of federal jobs now filled based on an applicant's qualifications beyond a traditional exam. However, a proportion of jobs, especially those requiring specific knowledge or skills, still may require the passage of a civil service exam.
The civil service system has been shaped over time by major legislative changes, including the Pendleton Act and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which established the OPM and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to oversee fair hiring practices and worker protections.