Nearly all public employees want, and are entitled to have, security of tenure, political independence and the right to vote as they please. They are entitled to be sure that, as long as they properly perform the duties of their positions, they will retain their jobs, win promotion through merit, and enjoy economic security along with political freedom. Unfortunately, under the old “spoils” system, as a matter of economic pressure and dire necessity, one could not afford to risk losing a job in order to vote as he or she pleased.

The Civil Service Amendment established a Civil Service System, effective for the majority of state employees on June 30, 1953. It prohibited discharge of a regular employee for political reasons, and it established a democratic merit system in public employment. The law effectively destroys the “spoils” system and will save the taxpayers of the State of Louisiana millions of dollars, through improved efficiency of public employees in governmental activities. It restores political liberty and security to thousands of honest and efficient employees of the state. The Civil Service System will permanently result in cleaner and more efficient government and will protect and preserve our fundamental democratic institutions. It is through Civil Service that state employees can be freed from political control and influence so that they may perform their work without fear or favor and may cast their votes as they alone desire.

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