political patronage
Jobs for loyalists
Political patronage is the practice of awarding government jobs, contracts, or favors based on political loyalty rather than merit.
A newly elected official might reward campaign supporters with appointments: The ambassador position was pure political patronage.
The term often carries negative connotations of corruption or cronyism, though patronage systems have historically been standard practice in democratic politics.
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
- sinecurePaid position requiring nothing
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- old boys clubInformal male power network
spoils system · corruption · contracts · favoritism · kickbacks · palm greasing · ward heeler · Tammany Hall · plum · quid pro quo · pay to play · graft · conflict of interest · rent-seeking · spoils · party loyalty · alliances · factionalism
- patronagebenefactors, sponsors, donors, backers, beneficiary
- Spoils Systemspoils system, cronyism, favoritism, appointments, federal jobs
- Jacksonian EraAndrew Jackson, Democratic Party, spoils system, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears
political patronagemerit system
Advancement based on ability
civil service · meritocracy · merit-based hiring · competitive examination · technocracy
political patronagegood governance
Accountable, transparent institutional management
anti-corruption · transparency · public interest · accountability · impartiality
political patronageegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
equal opportunity · open government · universal suffrage · political equality · pluralism
policy, politics, patron, political, patrons, politician, policies, patronize, patronage