Civil Service Commission (Alexandria-Prussia)
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 1, 1871 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Alexandria-Prussia |
| Headquarters | Civil Service Building 101 East 15th Street, Kingston, AP |
| Employees | 970 (2020) |
| Annual budget | $50 million (2020) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | http://www.civilservice.ap.gov |
The Alexandria-Prussia Civil Service Commission is an independent government agency in the central government of Alexandria-Prussia and was originally created to select employees of central government on merit rather than relationships. However today the commission handles civil service appeals, audits, exemptions and union collective bargaining agreements for all Central Government agencies.
In 2018 the Commission transferred certain functions to the Office of Administration (OA). The transition was completed by March of 2019.
History
On March 3, 1871, Minister-President James E. Austin signed into law the first AP civil service reform legislation, which had been passed by parliament. The act created the Alexandria-Prussia Civil Service Commission, that was implemented by Minister-President Austin and funded for years that Austin remained in office. However, parliament who relied heavily on patronage, especially in House of Lords, did not renew funding of the Civil Service Commission. Austin's successor, Minister-President Michael A. Hayes requested a renewal of funding but none was granted.
Hayes successor Henry R. Welsh advocated Civil Service reform. Welsh won't see the reform through as Welsh die of a mass of heart attack in 1882.
Welsh Civil Service Reform Act
Welsh successor Robert A. Muller took up the cause of Civil Service reform and was able to lobby Parliament to pass the Welsh Civil Service Reform Act in 1883. The Act renewed funding for the Civil Service Commission and established a three-man commission to run Civil Service whose commissioners were chosen by Minister-President. The Civil Service Commission administered the civil service of the Alexandria-Prussia Central Government. The Welsh law required certain applicants to take the civil service exam in order to be given certain jobs; it also prevented elected officials and political appointees from firing civil servants, removing civil servants from the influences of political patronage and partisan behavior. Minister-President Muller and succeeding Minister-Presidents continued to expand the authority of the Civil Service Commission and central departments that the Civil Service was covered. The Civil Service Commission, in addition to reducing patronage, also alleviated the burdensome task of the Minister-President in appointing federal office seekers.
Under the Commission Model, policy making and administrative powers were given to semi-independent commission rather than to the Minister-President. Reformers believed that a commission formed outside of the president’s chain of command would ensure that civil servants would be selected on the basis of merit system and the career service would operate in a politically neutral fashion.
Lord Reform Act of 1978
Was a reform bill what would have abolished the Civil Service Commission and create two new agency to handle Civil Service duties. The bill passed overwhelming in the House of Lords; however in the House of Representatives it passed along party lines and only by a slim majority. Then it arrived on Minister-President Carter desk it was veto as it the bill lack clarity on some of the biggest issues. Reform of the commission after Carter was largely ignored by future administrations.
Civil Service Reform Act of 2018
After years of largely being ignored Lord Folmer with the support from Minister-President McCord presented a bill to the House of Lords to reform the Civil Service Commission. According to Folmer the intent of the law was to modernize the civil service merit selection and hiring process. As Lord Folmer said, “Our current legislation proposes further modernization to better meet customer’s needs: those seeking employment with the Central Government – especially veterans– and central government agencies needing to hire people.” The law accomplishes this goal “by moving hiring responsibilities from the Civil Service Commission to the Office of Administration.” These responsibilities include: “merit-based hiring, civil service applications, certifications, examinations, and, promotions.” The bill passed both houses and was signed into law by Minister-President McCord in July of 2018.
With this move it would allow the Commission to solely focus on conduct hearings and render determinations, exempt positions from civil service, negotiate union collective bargaining agreements and audit Central Government compliance with the Civil Service Act – the latter to provide checks and balances relating to the proposed transfer of merit-based hiring to the Office of Administration
Commissioners
Civil Service Commission consisted of five individuals appointed by the Minister-President and approved by the House of Lords. The Commissioners serve a 5 year term with option of having a second term appointed. Once Commissioner term expires they are allowed to remain in their position, until a replacement has been appointed.
The following table lists commissioners as of May 2020.
| Member | Political party | Sworn in | Term expiration* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dale W. Bailey (Chairman) |
Unionist | May 1, 2020 | September 26, 2025 |
| Bryan J. Fletcher | Democratic | May 2, 2018 | September 26, 2023 |
| Nicholas R. Centineo | Democratic | May 2, 2018 | September 26, 2023 |
| Elizabeth I. McCullough | Unionist | May 5, 2015 | September 27, 2020 |
| Andrea E. Newman | Unionist | May 06, 2016 | September 24, 2021 |
Organization Structure
- Civil Service Commissioners
- Executive Director
- Executive Deputy Director
- Office of General Counsel †
- Deputy Director for Administrative and Legislative Affairs
- Administrative Services Office
- Communications and Legislative Affairs Office
- General Government Delivery Center †
- Deputy Director for Audits and Exemptions
- Bureau of Audits
- Bureau of Exemptions
- Deputy Director for Collective Bargaining
- Office of Arbitration and Law Judges
- Office of Case Intake and Publication
- Office of Union Bargaining
- Deputy Director for Operations and Appeals
- Bureau of Appeals
- Legal Services Office †
- Regional Offices
- Deputy Director for Administrative and Legislative Affairs
- Executive Director
† General Government Delivery Center delivery centers provides HR and IT services to groups of agencies.
† Office of General Counsel is an independent office that helps guide and interpret laws as well as providing legal services to the departments or offices of HM Government
† Legal Services Office handles the commissions provides support as adjudicators conducting hearings of disputed personnel actions.