Federal Systems Paper

Federal Systems Paper

University of Phoenix

May 17, 2004

Federal Systems Paper

Many people are surprised to learn that there is not a single "court system" in the United States. Every state has its own court system to handle cases that involve disputes or crimes that arise within the state. The federal government also has a court system to handle cases that involve disputes or issues governed by federal laws or the U.S. Constitution. Both the state system and the government system have different applications for employment laws as well. In the following paragraphs I will describe how the federal and state systems of government differ in their application of employment law. I will also provide an example of an employment protection that is provided by California's state system, but not by the federal system.

Thanks to the laws, executive orders, regulations and such that govern federal and state employment, landing government jobs still differs somewhat from the traditional job search.

English: Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court justi...

English: View of Capitol Hill from the U.S. Suprem...

U.S. Supreme Court building.

But at least it is not as complicated as it used to be. There was a time when, regardless of the government jobs for which you were applying, you had to complete standard application forms and pass written tests. Now, only a few positions require you to take tests and in many cases, you have a choice of submitting your resume or the Optional Application for Federal Employment (Form OF-612). Many Federal agencies now fill their jobs much like employers in the private sector, by allowing you to contact the hiring agency directly.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has further simplified the process with their Federal Employment Information System. Everyday, it has roughly 12,000 Federal, state, city and civil service government job opportunities worldwide, and even includes private sector and military-civilian opportunities. This centralized, automated, government job...