American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System examines the innovations, strategies, and issues fueling the civil service reform debate. Offering diverse perspectives from expert contributors, this book looks at accomplished and considered reforms across the US, paying particular attention to questions regarding the operation, fairness and future of merit systems. Examples of ongoing change are presented, as are various controversies, including whether the relaxation of civil service protections against intrusion could lead to corruption. Other issues are identified, both those which may lead to reforms, and those likely to become hot button topics going forward.

James S Dowman, Jonathan P West, Jack Rabin, Jerrell D Coggburn, Jessica E. Sowa, Steven Hayes

Merit Systems in Flux. Is Patronage a Problem? State Cases of Civil Service Reform? Future Reform Issues.