In the USA, the granting of offices and
favours among the supporters of a party in
office. The spoils system, a type of
patronage, was used by President Jefferson
and was enlarged in scope by the 1820 Tenure
of Office Act, which gave the president and
Senate the power to reappoint posts that were
the gift of the government after each
four-yearly election. The practice remained
common in the 20th century in US local
government. The term is derived from a speech
after an election victory by Secretary of
State William Marcy: `To the victor belong
the spoils of the enemy.' The system reached
a peak under the presidency of Ulysses S
Grant (1869-77). In the 20th century,
civil-service posts in large cities were
often filled on the recommendation of newly
elected political leaders. The system was
epitomized by the Democratic Party `machine'
of Richard Daley (1902-76), mayor of Chicago
1955-76.