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U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

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 Biography of an Ideal. A History of the Federal Civil Service.  Review a message from the Director, in a new browser window
Review the Merit System Principles, in a new browser window
Review the Civil Service Act of 1883, in a new browser window
Review the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, in a new browser window
 View an Introductory Slide Show, in a new browser window  1789-1883: Ninety Six Premerit Years
 Access the Full Text of the slide show, in a new browser window
 1883: Merit System is Born
Access the Text-Only Version (0.7 MB)
 1883-1938: The First Fifty Five Years
 1938-1958: The Beginning of Modern Personnel Administration
 1958-1977:  From Administration to Management
 Take the History Challenge Quiz, in a new browser window  1977-1979:  The Second Civil Service Reform
 1979-Present: Post-Reform: Gains, Losses, and Constant Change