1. Chapter Nine The Executive Branch of Texas Government

2. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-2 Merit System Controversies Aside from the difficulty of firing individuals under a merit system, there are additional problems that affect government employees. There are three basic areas: Affirmative Action Sexual Harassment Unions

3. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-3 Affirmative Action The basic idea is to ensure equal employment opportunity to everyone. The question is how best to do this. A diverse bureaucracy has two benefits: It is more representative (ideas, values) of the people they serve. It is more like a government “of, by and for” the people, thus gaining legitimacy.

4. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-4 Affirmative Action (Cont’d) Having a more diverse bureaucracy seems to go against hiring the “best” for the job. But most agencies do take affirmative action ideas into their hiring decisions and are more diverse than their private counterparts. Courts continue to redefine the standards of discrimination.

5. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-5 Sexual Harassment This goes against the ideals of the merit system because it: Affects hiring decisions Affects promotion decisions Affects workplace productivity It is illegal under federal law, and agencies face penalties if it is found and proved.

6. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-6 Unions Private unions have existed since the 1930s, but public unions didn’t start until the 1960s. Private union membership was declining in the 1970s, but public unions were growing. Public unions are not uniform across the states– some are very limited.

7. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-7 Unions (Cont’d) Government labor relations are very politically charged due to four factors: Public officials face great pressure to resolve disputes. Public employees unions have clout. Unions trade in labor peace and electoral support with public officials. Unions can use strikes or slowdowns as political weapons (see the first factor).

8. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9-8 Unions (Cont’d) It would seem that union ideals go against merit system ideals. But in many union-friendly states, collective bargaining and merit systems coexist. Merit systems are supported by unions as long as union values (seniority in particular) are reflected in merit decisions.