Georgia’s comprehensive reform of its civil service system in July 1996 removed merit system protections from all employees hired after that date and substantially altered the relationship between the state’s central personnel agency and the line agencies and departments. This article introduces the symposium by briefly tracing the driving forces, rationale, and central features of Georgia’s reform efforts. In 2000, Florida became the second state to substantially restructure its civil service system, removing merit system protections from a significant number of public employees. The interests and arguments supporting and opposing Florida’s “Service First” initiative are identified together with a short analysis of its major legislative provisions and their implications. Reforms in both Georgia and Florida are designed to enhance managerial flexibility, but there are concerns that employee rights are diminished in the process.
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