American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System (Public Administration and Public Policy)

Understanding the effects of radical change on public personnel systems is critically important both now and in the future to all those interested in the quality of American democracy. Civil service reform is occurring at all levels of government both in the United States and abroad. American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System is a collection of papers that examine the innovations, strategies, and issues found in the contemporary civil service reform debate. Offering diverse perspectives from expert contributors, this book presents matters concerning radical reform and the merit system at the federal, state, and local levels of government. This volume offers fresh insight into the effects of merit system changes on employees. Divided into four sections, this book… · Examines a portrait of contemporary reforms from across the country and concepts to interpret those data · Addresses whether the relaxation of civil service protections against partisan intrusion will result in corruption · Provides examples of ongoing changes and analyzes survey data from state managers · Discusses a variety of key issues, such as the impact on racial inequality of moving from a protected class employment status to an unprotected at-will relationship The book provides a baseline of data on reforms as well as an account of their current promises and pitfalls. Covering topics ripped from the headlines, this text also identifies pressing issues and makes suggestions for the future. Offering a variety of methodological approaches, it is ideal for all those interested in effective governance. Front cover......Page 1 DEDICATION......Page 10 CONTENTS......Page 12 ABOUT THE EDITORS......Page 18 CONTRIBUTORS......Page 20 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 22 INTRODUCTION......Page 24 PART I: MERIT SYSTEMS IN FLUX......Page 34 CHAPTER 1. CHANGES IN STATE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEMS: A NATIONAL SURVEY......Page 36 CHAPTER 2. FRAMING CIVIL SERVICE INNOVATIONS: ASSESSING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS......Page 58 CHAPTER 3. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT: ORIGINS, APPILCATIONS, EXCEPTIONS, AND EXPANSIONS IN PUBLIC SERVICE......Page 80 PART II: IS PATRONAGE A PROBLEM?......Page 108 CHAPTER 4. BRINGING BACK BOSS TWEED: COULD AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT WORK IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND, IF SO, WHERE?......Page 110 CHAPTER 5. THE DEMONIZATION OF PATRONAGE: FOLK DEVILS AND THE BOSTON GLOBE'S COVERAGE OF THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS......Page 134 PART III: STATE CASES OF CIVIL SERVICE REFORM......Page 154 CHAPTER 6. ENDING CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTIONS IN FLORIDA GOVERNMENT: EXPERIENCES IN STATE AGENCIES......Page 156 CHAPTER 7. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT IN GOVERNMENT: ITS IMPACT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS......Page 184 CHAPTER 8. THE ATTRACTION TO AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT IN UTAH GOVERNMENTS......Page 208 PART IV: FUTURE REFORM ISSUES......Page 226 CHAPTER 9. DISSIN' THE DEADWOOD OR CODDLING THE INCOMPETENTS? PATTERNS AND ISSUES IN EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE AND DISMISSAL IN THE STATES......Page 228 CHAPTER 10. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT AND RACIAL EQUALITY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: THE DEMISE OF A NICHE?......Page 252 CHAPTER 11. FEDERAL LABOR- MANAGEMENT RELATIONS UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH: ENLIGHTENED MANAGEMENT OR POLITICAL RETRIBUTION?......Page 266 INDEX......Page 288 Back cover......Page 298 Merit Systems In Flux -- Changes In State Civil Service Systems: A National Survey / Steven W, Hays And Jessica E. Sowa -- Framing Civil Service Innovations: Assessing State And Local Government Reforms / R. Paul Battaglio, Jr. And Stephen E. Condrey -- At-will Employment: Origins, Applications, Exceptions, And Expansions In Public Service / Sally C. Gertz -- Is Patronage A Problem? -- Bringing Back Boss Tweed: Could At-will Employment Work In State And Local Government And, If So, Where? / Robert Maranto And Jeremy Johnson -- The Demonization Of Patronage: Folk Devils And The Boston Globe's Coverage Of The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks / Domonic A. Bearfield -- State Cases Of Civil Service Reform -- Ending Civil Service Protections In Florida Government: Experiences In State Agencies / James S. Bowman And Jonathan P. West -- At-will Employment In Government: Its Impact In The State Of Texas / Jerrell D. Coggburn -- The Attraction To At-will Employment In Utah Governments / Richard Green, Robert Forbis, Jennifer Robinson, Stephen Nelson, Jennifer Seelig, And Angela Stefaniak -- Future Reform Issues -- Dissin' The Deadwood Or Coddling The Incompetents? Patterns And Issues In Employee Discipline And Dismissal In The States / Richard C. Elling And Lyke Thompson -- At-will Employment And Racial Equality In The Public Sector: The Demise Of A Niche? / George Wilson -- Federal Labor-management Under George W. Bush: Enlightened Management Or Political Retribution? / James R. Thompson. [edited By] James S. Bowman, Jonathan P. West. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System provides a collection of papers that examine the innovations, strategies, and issues found in the contemporary civil service reform debate. Offering diverse perspectives from expert contributors, this book presents reforms from across the country and interprets data. It addresses the question of whether the relaxation of civil service protections against partisan intrusion will result in corruption. It includes examples of ongoing change and explores controversies over civil service that have implications in reform. Representing the 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.