How did President Carter’s plan (below) for organizing the Merit Protection Board guarantee employee protection? (Select all that apply.) The Merit Protection Board will be the adjudicatory arm of the new personnel system. It will be headed by a bipartisan board of three members, appointed for 7 years, serving non-renewable overlapping terms, and removable only for cause. This structure will guarantee independent and impartial protection to employees. I also propose to create a Special Counsel to the Board, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, who will investigate and prosecute political abuses and merit system violations. This will help safeguard the rights of Federal employees who "blow the whistle" on violations of laws or regulations by other employees, including their supervisors.

a. The board will have the authority to resolve specific complaints brought before it by employees.

b. The members of the board will have specific law enforcement powers to ensure their political neutrality and commitment.

c. Its members serve for 7 years, assuring that no member will owe allegiance to a specific party or elected official.

d. The members of the board can only be removed from office if they violate their agreements or act in a manner that creates a legal reason for terminating them.