Merit refers to the quality of being deserving or worthy based on one's abilities, qualifications, and achievements. In the context of hiring federal employees, it means selecting individuals based on their skills and capabilities rather than their political connections or affiliations.
Related terms
Civil Service: This term refers to the permanent professional branches of a government's administration, which are filled through merit-based hiring.
Spoils System: This policy involved giving government jobs to loyal supporters or friends as rewards for political support.
Pendleton Act: This legislation passed in 1883 established a merit-based system for federal civil service appointments, aiming to reduce corruption and favoritism in government hiring.