What was the civil service commission?

The Civil Service Commission was an independent federal agency of the United States government from 1883 until 1979. It was responsible for developing procedures for merit-based hiring and promotions in federal civil service. The Commission was created by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, and its primary mission was to eliminate patronage and political influence from the federal hiring process. The Civil Service Commission was composed of three commissioners appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President named one of the commissioners to serve as the chair of the Commission.

The Civil Service Commission was responsible for conducting competitive examinations to determine the qualifications of applicants for federal jobs. The Commission also established rules for promotions within the federal civil service and oversaw the implementation of those rules. The Civil Service Commission was responsible for developing and administering a system of efficiency ratings for federal employees and oversaw the implementation of that system.

In addition, the Civil Service Commission worked to protect the rights of federal employees and to promote ethical conduct in the federal government. The Civil Service Commission was abolished by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, and its functions were transferred to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).