10.2190/CX2N-N6W2-R5UA-YVFP CX2NN6W2R5UAYVFP 0 SOME SIGNIFICANT FIRST-YEAR DICISIONS ISSUED BY THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=CX2NN6W2R5UAYVFP 1 GEORGE MUNCHUS III With the passage of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA) which became effective in January, 1979 there are numerous changes regarding he administration of personnel/human resource decisions. One such change is the establishment of a merit Systems Protection board (MSPB) which is similar in function to the National Labor Relations Board in that it (MSPB) is to safeguard the merit system and federal employee rights. The issues of Hatch Act violations, veteran preference points, whistleblower protection, proof of substantial evidence, and performance appraisal system case are reviewed and discussed as it relates to the first year operation of the Merit Systems Protection Board.