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Merit System Principles (MSPs)
Practical Law Glossary Item 7-576-2806 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Merit System Principles (MSPs)
A list of nine standards established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA) governing federal personnel management decisions. The MSPs are:
- Recruitment of qualified individuals from appropriate sources to achieve a workforce from all segments of society, with selection and advancement determined solely on merit, after fair and open competition, and equal opportunity for all.
- Fair and equitable treatment in all aspects of management, without regard to political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or handicapping condition, and with proper regard for privacy and constitutional rights.
- Equal pay for work of equal value, appropriate consideration of rates paid by employers in the private sector, and appropriate incentive and recognition for excellent performance.
- Expectation that all employees will maintain high standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest.
- Effective and efficient use of the workforce.
- Employee advancement and retention based on qualification and performance, with inadequate performance corrected, and separation of employees who cannot or will not improve their performance to meet required standards.
- Training to improve organizational and individual performance.
- Protection from arbitrary action, favoritism, or coercion for political purposes, and a prohibition on the use of official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election.
- Protection against reprisal for lawful disclosure of violations of law or mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse.
The MSPs do not provide an independent basis for legal action by a federal employee, but the MSPs are mirrored in a list of prohibited personnel practices (PPPs) also established by the CSRA. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) investigates and prosecutes prohibited personnel practices. The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) adjudicates complaints and appeals from federal employees and applicants that a federal agency has committed a PPP. Among other things, it is a PPP to take an action in violation of the MSPs.
For more information, see Practice Note, Civil Service Protections for Federal Employees: Overview.