Which act empowers the Office of Personnel Management to set standards for federal merit personnel systems?

The correct choice is the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. This act was pivotal in restructuring the federal personnel system, primarily aimed at improving the performance, accountability, and efficiency of government personnel management. It granted the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the authority to establish and enforce standards for federal merit personnel systems, ensuring that hiring and employment practices adhered to merit principles such as fairness, equal opportunity, and transparency.

This act also laid the groundwork for significant reforms, allowing the OPM to oversee various aspects of federal employment, including the implementation of merit-based hiring practices and the promotion of diversity within the federal workforce. By empowering the OPM in such a way, the Civil Service Reform Act aimed to eliminate patronage and enhance the professionalism of the federal workforce, which is crucial for effective governance and public service.

The other acts mentioned, while they address important aspects related to employment such as equal opportunities and civil rights, do not focus on establishing standards for federal merit personnel systems as directly as the Civil Service Reform Act does.