Civil Service Reform in the United States of America(1990s-2010s): The Case Analyses of Georgia State, Florida State and Department of Homeland Security
Sun-Jyi Ke**
Abstract
This paper attempts to investigate radical civil service reform in the United States of America by the case analyses of Georgia State, Florida State and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This paper reviews core concept of radical civil service reform--at-will employment. At-will employment adopted by all levels of U.S. government is to reform civil service for managerial flexibility. Undoubtedly, those reforms would meet a great deal of political and legal resistance. None of the plaintiffs, however, prevailed on their constitutional claims. Finally, as this paper quotes U.S. academics as saying that strong political or public support for radical reforms has not materialized in most states mainly because of a lack of credible program evaluation and a shortage of evidence to prove their merit. At-will employment of DHS disclaimed 2009 because of partisan politics and unions opposition after President Barack Obama was inaugurated.
Keywords: U.S.A., radical civil service, Georgia State, Florida State, Department of Homeland Security
* Paper (added and revised) presented at International Conference on Globalization and Administrative Governance, March 31, 2009, Taoyuan, Taiwan: Kainan University.
** Professor, Department of Public Affairs Management, Kainan University.
http://www.exam.gov.tw/public/Data/212320215271.pdf