arrow_back Civic Audit
Share share

Limits on Federal Hiring: Ending the Patronage System

This act aims to limit the ability to hire individuals for federal positions without open competition. It ensures that most civil service positions are filled based on qualifications, not connections. This gives citizens greater confidence that officials are selected fairly and competently.
Key points
The act restricts the ability to exempt positions from the competitive service, meaning fewer jobs will be filled outside standard competitive procedures.
All new exemptions must comply with rules in effect before September 30, 2020, preventing the creation of new, non-standard hiring paths.
The goal is to ensure federal employment is based on merit, not personal connections.
article Official text account_balance Process page notifications_active Track this Bill
52%
VOTING RESULTS
2022-09-15
For 225
Against 204
Abstain 0
Full voting results open_in_new
gavel
Status:
Expired
Record your position for audit.
Why does your vote on bills matter?
It creates raw, undeniable proof. Civic Will provides the permanent data to verify the Government's loyalty towards its citizens (explained here). Start recording it now.
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_302
Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Process start date: 2021-01-13
Voting date: 2022-09-15
Meeting no: 2
Voting no: 432
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

PPSA Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_302.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-13.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The act restricts the ability to exempt positions from the competitive service, meaning fewer jobs will be filled outside standard competitive procedures.
  • All new exemptions must comply with rules in effect before September 30, 2020, preventing the creation of new, non-standard hiring paths.
  • The goal is to ensure federal employment is based on merit, not personal connections.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Where is the official voting record?

The official roll call vote is recorded at: voting record

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 204 (Roll no. 432). (text: CR H7848)

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-27.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Labor Public Investments