APGoPo Name_____________________________
Date__________________ Per.________
KEY LEGISLATION
Judiciary Act, 1789:
• Set the foundation for our judicial system; established federal court system
• Permitted mandamus cases to come to the Supreme Court in its original jurisdiction. This part of
the act was famously struck down by John Marshall in Marbury v. Madison.
Pendleton Act, 1881:
• Overhauled federal bureaucracy by replacing the spoils system with the merit system
• Began Civil Service Commission to screen applicants.
Hatch Act, 1939:
Limits political activities of civil service employees.
Equal Pay Act, 1963:
• Made it illegal to base an employee’s salary on race, gender, religion, or national origin.
• Significant to women’s movement and struggle for black civil rights.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964:
• Gave president (Johnson) power to send unlimited number of troops for unlimited time.
• Later limited by War Powers Act.
• Enormous boost to “imperial presidency.”
Civil Rights Act of 1964:
Title II bans discrimination in public places on basis of race, color, national origin, or religion.
Title VII:
• Prohibits employment discrimination on basis of all of the above plus sex. Allows employers to give
racial preferences in hiring.
• Executive Order #11246 required federal contractors to adopt affirmative action programs.
• Allowed class action suits.
• Enforced by EEOC.
Voting Rights Act of 1965:
• Suspended literacy tests.
• Empowered federal officials to register voters.
• Empowered federal officials to ensure that citizens could vote.
• Empowered federal officials to count ballots.
• Prohibited states from changing voting procedures without federal permission.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 1967:
Bans age discrimination for jobs unless age is related to job performance.
Air Quality Act, 1967 and various Clean Air Acts, 1960s-1990s:
• Established emissions standards for cars and factories.
• Established minimum standards for states.
Federal Election Campaign Acts, 1971-1974:
• Created FEC.
• Required disclosure of contributions and expenditures.
• Provided limitations on contributions and presidential election expenditures.
• Provided subsidies for presidential candidates.
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Title IX of Education Act of 1972:
• No institution of higher learning that receives federal funding may discriminate on the basis of
gender.
• Schools forced to increase funding of women’s programs, especially sports programs.
War Powers Act, 1973:
President could send troops overseas to an area where hostilities were imminent only if:
• He notified Congress within 48 hours.
• He withdrew troops within 60-90 days.
• He consulted with Congress if troops were to engage in combat.
• Congress can pass resolution to have troops withdrawn at any time.
Freedom of Information Act, 1974:
Allows public access to nonclassifed federal documents.
Airline Deregulation Act, 1978:
• Gave airlines the power to set whatever fares the market could bear
• Allowed them to service any cities they wanted
• Resulted in lower fares, greater choice of routes, and a few mergers and bankruptcies
• Example of deregulation of private industry by federal agencies.
Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1979:
• Established congressional budget committees.
• Established Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
• Extended budget process by three months.
• Allows either house to override temporary impoundment (deferral).
• Automatically voids permanent impoundment (rescission) unless both houses approve within 45
days.
Gun-Free School Zones Act, 1980:
• Using the commerce clause, Congress ordered schools free from guns.
• Declared unconstitutional in Lopez v. US as an unreasonable application of commerce clause.
• Example of Conservative court unwilling to infringe upon state discretionary power.
Voting Rights Act of 1982:
• Required states to create majority-minority congressional districts (some of which were declared
unconstitutional and modified by Shaw and Miller cases.)
• Number of minorities in House of Representatives when up.
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Bill, 1985:
• Set gradual budget reduction targets to lead to a balanced budget.
• Across-the-board budget cuts (sequestering of funds) to kick in if targets not met.
• Loopholes >> abandonment in late 80s.
• Was not successful because Congress failed to spend within limits.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990:
• Bans job discrimination against disabled if "reasonable accommodation" can be made.
• Requires access to facilities for handicapped.
Brady Act, 1993:
• Gun control act. Limited types of guns that could be purchased.
• The provision of this law in which Congress required local law enforcement officers to do
background checks on gun buyers was declared unconstitutional in 1997 - it interfered with the
discretionary powers of the states.
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National Voter Registration Bill ("Motor Voter Act"), 1993:
Requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for driver's licenses applications or
completing license renewal forms.
Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 1993:
• The court’s attempt to re-establish the compelling interest test to determine extent of free exercise
clause.
• Allowed the practice of religion unless the state had a compelling interest to restrict it
• Struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1997.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995:
• Requires CBO to analyze impact of unfunded mandates on states.
• Requires separate congressional vote on bills that impose unfunded mandates.
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform Act of 1996):
• Ended federal entitlement status of welfare.
• In its place, federal government gave block grants to states to administer welfare.
• "Strings" attached to these grants:
1. Recipients must work within 2 years.
2. Recipients cannot receive benefits for more than 5 years.
Communications Decency Act (CDA), 1997:
Prohibited circulation of "indecent" material on internet to minors. Struck down by Supreme Court.
No Child Left Behind Act, 2001:
• States must adopt education accountability standards.
• States must annually test students.
• Sanctions against schools that fail to meet adequate yearly progress.
USA Patriot Act, 2001:
Strengthens the federal government's power to conduct surveillance, perform searches and detain
individuals in order to combat terrorism.
McCain-Feingold Bill (Campaign Finance Reform Act), 2002:
• Raised hard money limits to $2000.
• Banned soft money contributions to national political parties.
