Washington, D.C. - During the 5th Global Forum on Reinventing Government in Mexico City, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James discussed the steps the U.S. civil service is taking to achieve a government that is more responsive to the interests and needs of American citizens. James joined President Vincente Fox as a participant in the program.

James' speech, The American Civil Service: Assuring the Continuity and Competence of Government, highlighted the President's key management initiatives, including ensuring the American civil service continues to provide government services through political administration changes, system modernization, reforming hiring and pay processes, and protecting the merit system principles.

James, President Bush's chief advisor on federal human resources issues, opened her speech by thanking an audience of nearly 10,000 attendees for their interest in modeling systems that honestly serve and support their constituencies. She continued by providing them with the model the United States civil service provides the world as a foundational and stabilizing force in the maintenance of America's democracy.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be here today representing President Bush and the citizens of the United States," said James. "The people of the United States, who are not easily categorized, are defined by the simple concept that we uphold, support and defend our Constitution - which we hold sacred. The true test of a democracy is the ability of its citizens to choose who shall have the privilege of leading them - and to then change their minds. And a democracy's success depends in no small part upon its civil service and its ability to assure the continuity and competence of government, even as elections may bring about dramatic changes in the leadership of that government - to administer and enforce the laws of the land impartially and without regard to partisan politics or political party, subject to the rule of law and not individual whim."

The Global Forum was sponsored by the Government of Mexico.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.