spoils system
Rewarding political allies
The spoils system is the practice of awarding government jobs to political supporters after an election victory.
The term comes from "to the victor belong the spoils"—winners distribute positions as rewards for loyalty rather than competence.
The system dominated American politics in the 19th century until civil service reform introduced merit-based hiring.
The new mayor's appointments reeked of the spoils system.
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
nepotism · cronyism · favoritism · venality · sleaze · scandal · exploitation · misappropriation
Patronage-based party structure
- Tammany HallInfamous Democratic political machine
- machine politicsCorrupt party-controlled governance
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
- party loyaltyCommitment to one's faction
loyalists · party faithful · stalwarts · kingmaker · power brokers · political appointments · ward boss · precinct captain
Scheduled times for meetings
- officesProfessional work spaces
- positionsLocations or viewpoints held
- plumsFleshy stone fruits
- sinecuresPositions requiring little labor
emoluments · perquisites · benefits · posts · jobs · government contracts · land grants · licenses
Division into opposing cliques
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- party loyaltyCommitment to one's faction
- partisanBiased toward one side
- ideologyStructured belief framework
tribalism · dogmatism · sectarianism · coalition · caucus · platform · incumbent · politicization
Lack of required skill
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- ineptitudeLack of ability
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
disorganization · wastefulness · overstaffing · underperformance · amateurism · deadwood · turnover · inexperience
graft
Illicit political gain
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
malfeasance · nepotism · cronyism · favoritism · venality · sleaze · scandal · exploitation · misappropriation · looting
political machine
Patronage-based party structure
- Tammany HallInfamous Democratic political machine
- machine politicsCorrupt party-controlled governance
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
party loyalty · loyalists · party faithful · stalwarts · kingmaker · power brokers · political appointments · ward boss · precinct captain · party boss
appointments
Scheduled times for meetings
sinecures · emoluments · perquisites · benefits · posts · jobs · government contracts · land grants · licenses · commissions
factionalism
Division into opposing cliques
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- party loyaltyCommitment to one's faction
- partisanBiased toward one side
ideology · tribalism · dogmatism · sectarianism · coalition · caucus · platform · incumbent · politicization · party line
incompetence
Lack of required skill
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- ineptitudeLack of ability
bureaucracy · disorganization · wastefulness · overstaffing · underperformance · amateurism · deadwood · turnover · inexperience · dysfunction
- Gilded AgeGilded Age, robber baron, robber barons, Carnegie, Rockefeller
- government hiringcivil servant, state employee, public employee, government job, federal jobs
- Jacksonian EraAndrew Jackson, Democratic Party, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears, kitchen cabinet
- Spoils Systempolitical patronage, patronage, cronyism, favoritism, appointments
- influence peddlinginfluence peddling, backscratching, quid pro quo, kickbacks, payoffs
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
spoils systemmerit system
Advancement based on ability
merit-based hiring · competitive examination · meritocracy · credentialism · technocracy
spoil, system, spoiled, spoils, spoiling, unspoiled, systems, systematic, systemic