Editing Andrew Jackson (section)

===Reforms and rotation in office===
{{Further|Spoils system}}

Jackson believed that Adams's administration had been corrupt and he initiated investigations into all executive departments.{{sfn|Gilman|1995|p=64–65}} These investigations revealed that $280,000 ({{Inflation|US|280000|1830|fmt=eq|r=-5|cursign=$}}) was stolen from the Treasury. They also resulted in a reduction in costs to the Department of the Navy, saving $1&nbsp;million ({{Inflation|US|1000000|1830|fmt=eq|r=-5|cursign=$}}).{{sfn|Remini|1981|pp=186–187}} Jackson asked Congress to tighten laws on embezzlement and tax evasion, and he pushed for an improved government accounting system.{{sfn|Ellis|1974|p=56}}

Jackson implemented a principle he called "[[Term limits in the United States|rotation in office]]". The previous custom had been for the president to leave the existing appointees in office, replacing them through attrition. Jackson enforced the [[Tenure of Office Act (1820)|Tenure of Office Act]], an 1820 law that limited office tenure, authorized the president to remove current office holders, and appoint new ones.{{sfn|Howe|2007|pp=332–333}} During his first year in office, he removed about 10% of all federal employees{{sfn|Howe|2007|pp=332–333}} and replaced them with loyal Democrats.{{sfn|Sabato|O'Connor|2002|p=278}} Jackson argued that rotation in office reduced corruption{{sfn|Friedrich|1937|p=14}} by making officeholders responsible to the popular will,{{sfn|Ellis|1974|p=51}} but it functioned as political patronage and became known as the [[spoils system]].{{sfn|Ellis|1974|p=61}}{{sfn|Friedrich|1937|p=14}}