Assessment of Merit in Public Administration, from Liberalism to the Carnation Revolution

Abstract

Liberalism brought with it the emergence of Administrative Law, and the subordination of State Administration to the Law. The Mouzinho da Silveira reform is credited with the elimination of the last remains of public office patrimonialization. Then, during the constitutional monarchy and the First Republic, public offices were designed as jobs with merit-based selection of candidates carrying specific, prescribed, remuneration. On the basis of the earliest constitutional texts, the legislature introduced a set of requirements for recruitment of public servants, ameliorating academic training, work experience and honor. During the Estado Novo period, when the productive State held sway,
the status of public service is enhanced by the introduction of doctrinal and legislative consolidation, with new procedures for career access and progression, as well as merit-related constraints