United States Civil Service Commission

The United States Civil Service Commission was established by the Civil Service Act of 1883. The Commission replaced the “spoils system” and democratized the process of hiring for federal jobs; first, because it required that these positions be filled through competitive examinations which were open to all citizens; second, because it required selection of the best-qualified applicants without regard to political considerations.

During World War II, the need for federal employees resulted in an increase in hiring. The number of employees which was about 800,000 strong in 1938, increased to almost 4,000,000 by 1945. However, many of the war-time positions were temporary. During the period after the war, the number of federal employees was reduced, with war-service and temporary appointees being displaced.

The Classification Act of 1949 contained many important features which had long been recommended by the Commission. Among other provisions, it established new and simplified schedules of grades and salaries; provided for three new grade levels at the top of the classification structure; and delegated to each agency the authority to classify its own positions, below the three highest grades. The new Classification Act provided for bringing about 20,000 additional positions under its provisions, and covered about 885,000 positions in the departmental and field services of the Government.

When the Korean emergency began, the federal service was again faced with urgent recruiting needs. To meet this need, the Commission instructed its operating offices to establish boards of examiners to the maximum practical extent. Boards of examiners demonstrated, during the emergency, that they could do a huge competitive recruiting job with speed and effectiveness.

In 1951, the Commission invited agencies to establish boards of examiners in their headquarters offices to give them a greater opportunity to participate in the selection of their own personnel and to get improved and faster recruiting services. After the armistice in Korea, there was a very substantial decrease in the size of the federal workforce. However, the board of examiners program continued to play a large and vital role in the operations of the competitive civil service system.

In 1978 the Civil Service Commission was reorganized and renamed the Office of Personnel Management.