Spoils System vs. Merit System

           In the federal bureaucracy today, we follow the merit system. This system was introduced in 1881 after the assassination of President Garfield. Congress passed The Pendleton Act, which created a merit-based federal civil service. The purpose of this was to replace patronages from the spoils system and create federal employment based on an exam that 85-90% of federal employees take today. Before this system, Andrew Jackson followed the spoils system. This system gave the president power to clear out all government workers and replace them with people from their own party. During this time, Jackson thought this was a healthy way to prevent corruption. As the country expanded and the Civil War began, thousands of government jobs became available. This led to economic growth and more government agencies to regulate the system after the war.

Cell Phone

              I do not think it is a good idea for the police to be able to search your cellphone without a warrant. A search warrant protects a persons right to privacy and should still be necessary in cases where it could save lives or bring justice to criminals. I agree with the Supreme Court's ruling because they realized the digital information is not the same as information on a piece of paper. A person's cell phone is their own personal property that should be handled the same way as a person's house by the police. The police have to wait for a search warrant to enter a home even when it could save lives or bring justice to criminals. The main purpose of the fourth amendment is to protect one's privacy to make them feel safe and secure. Without a warrant, the person will most likely feel violated and the information and any evidence found could be disregarded in the case. Because life has changed so drastically through the centuries, the supreme court will learn how the changes have affected a person's everyday life. I think it is a good thing that the courts are trying to apply the basic rights in the constitution to life in the 21st century. As long as the world is changing, the court system should always keep up.