The "spoils" system, was a system that brought greater rotation in the office. Andrew Jackson thought that is was healthy to clear out the government workers who had worked for predecessors, lest they become corrupt. Andrew Jackson is regarded as the President who entrenched the patronage...following this, he brought in a whole new group of "Jackson Democrats" into office.
It was in 1881 when the Spoils System was diluted when Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office seeker, killed President James Garfield because he was not granted a government job. After he was killed, Congress passed the Pendleton Act or also known as the merit system. This brand new system required exams for federal employment. In order to do this, the act created a three-member Civil Commission.
I do think that the spoils system is still part of the government today. Back when president Obama was running for office, there was an article written about his campaign team. It is a tradition that the president throw jobs to supporters. The Washington Post states, "Obama had doled out ambassadorships, at the same rate as the Bush administration (24 in total). Despite all those promised by the former in 2008 to enact "the most sweeping ethics reform in history." It was no surprise when Obama handed out posts, today it is common for the presidential candidate to break their promises. "Especially if that candidate promises not to do something all his predecessors have done."
