This report for Congress recommends improvements in the federal government's system for processing the individual discrimination complaints of federal employees and job applicants. The content is presented in seven chapters. The first, an introduction, presents the scope of review. The second chapter on system planning and implementation covers the placement and structure of the discrimination complaint system and determining financial and personnel resources. Chapter 3 discusses the fairness and impartiality of discrimination complaint systems; essentially, complainants are generally apprised of and afforded their rights, agencies are not consistent in rejecting or canceling complaints, and there is a need to preclude misuse of the complaint system. Focus of the fourth chapter is on the resolution of complaints; discussed are the need for improved data or alternate procedures for assessing informal resolution, the basis for and causes of informal and formal complaints, and corrective actions of formal complaints. Chapter 5 on timeliness of complaint processing discusses processing time, factors affecting the processing of formal complaints, and action taken by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The sixth chapter covers program reviews and evaluation, while the last briefly discusses the need for improved CSC procedure for handling third-party complaints and the need for uniformity in equal employment opportunity laws. (EM)