Final answer:
The placement of federal bureaucrats has transitioned from a patronage system to a merit-based system, primarily after the Pendleton Act of 1883. The Civil Service Commission, and later the OPM, took over the process ensuring a fairer hiring practice based on ability, leading to today's combination of merit and appointment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The placement of federal bureaucrats has evolved significantly over time, leading to outcomes where merit plays a pivotal role in employment within the government bureaucracy. Initially, the Pendleton Act of 1883 marked the transition from a patronage-based system, also known as the spoils system, to one based on merit. This act established the Civil Service Commission, which implemented a system where open competitive examinations determined civil service appointments.
Throughout the 20th century, the bureaucracy continued to grow, and subsequent reforms like the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 took place. This act replaced the Civil Service Commission with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), modernizing the process of hiring and ensuring accountability.
Today, the majority of federal bureaucratic positions are filled through an assessment of applicants' education, background, knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), while a smaller percentage still requires civil service exams, particularly for specialized or technical positions. Thus, the current practice for filling jobs within the federal bureaucracy is characterized by a combination of merit-based selection and, to a lesser extent, political appointments.