Government at Work: The Bureaucracy by Victoria Olavide

Merit System

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:06:04 UTC

the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:24:42 UTC

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:26:45 UTC

Spoils System

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:32:26 UTC

the practice of a successful political party giving public office to its supporters

Pros and Cons of the Spoils System

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:33:39 UTC

The idea of a very involved supporter in a campaign not only supporting it in the future, but getting a job out of it as well doesn't sound like a bad idea. They get rewarded for supporting what they believed in. It also ensures that when the party control change, the bureaucrats do as well. Although this is a wonderful opportunity, this keeps experienced workers from doing this job, and instead throws in people who know very little about the job. This also puts very little emphasis on the ability to perform the task.

Pros and Cons of the Merit System

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:42:10 UTC

The merit system allows people who are qualified to do they jobs they are trained to do, and thus resulting proper and accurate work being done. It may not motivate people to be as supportive because they don't get anything out of it, but the amount of proper work being done will make the whole system more efficient in the long run.

Traits that Define a Successful Government

victoriaolavide — 2015-02-25 19:57:25 UTC

People who are qualified to do the job should actually do the job because they are properly trained to do so. If we go by the spoils system, people have to do a job they don't know as much about compared to actual bureaucrats who have been trained to do so. Having a efficient government is more important than having people who support you running it and not doing an efficient job.