After President Garfield was assassinated by a regular man who just couldn’t seem to find a job, Congress enacted the Pendleton Act of 1883. Otherwise known as the Pendleton act of 1883, the act was signed into law by President Arthur who took over after aformentioned assassination. The act made it so that government jobs can be awarded to regular people based on merit. Employess could also be selected through competitive exams adminstered by government.

The law forbids requiring employees to give political service or contributions. The Pendleton act also made it unlawful to fire or demote for political reasons. A commission named the Civil Service Commission was out in place in order to enforce this act.