In the past , presidents could appoint members of the United States civil service . This use of the spoils system allowed presidents to reward political supporters with jobs . Following the assassination of President James Garfield by Charles J. Guiteau , a disgruntled office seeker , Congress instituted a merit-based civil service in which positions are filled on a nonpartisan basis . The Office of Personnel Management now oversees the staffing of 2.8 million federal jobs in the federal bureaucracy
assassination of President James Garfield
Assassination of James A. Garfield
Powers of the president of the United States