The civil service refers to the permanent, professional branches of government administration that carry out the day-to-day work of the executive branch. Established by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, the merit-based civil service was designed to replace the spoils system, in which government jobs were awarded as political patronage. Civil servants are expected to serve administrations of any party impartially, following law and policy rather than political directives. Protections for civil servants — including due-process rights before termination — are codified in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and enforced by the Merit Systems Protection Board.