Ap Gov Must Know Legislative Acts

Front 1

Hatch Act, 1939

Back 1

• Limits political activities of civil service employees.

Front 2

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Back 2

• 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 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Front 3

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Back 3

• 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.

Front 4

Age Discrimination In Employment Act, 1967

Back 4

• Bans age discrimination for jobs unless age is related to job performance.

Front 5

Civil Rights Act of 1968

Back 5

• Banned housing discrimination against same classes specified in C.R. Act of 1964. Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 1967:
• Bans age discrimination for jobs unless age is related to job performance. Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990:
• Bans job discrimination against disabled if “reasonable accommodation” can be made. Requires access to facilities for handicapped.

Front 6

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

Back 6

• Required environmental impact reports before major projects began. Air Quality Act, 1967 and various Clean Air Acts, 1960s-1990s:
• Established emissions standards for cars and factories.

Front 7

Federal Election Campaign Acts, 1971-1974

Back 7

• Created Federal Election Commission.
• Required disclosure of contributions and expenditures.
• Provided limitations on contributions and presidential election expenditures.
• Provided subsidies for presidential candidates.

Front 8

Title IX of Education Act of 1972

Back 8

• Prohibited gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs.

Front 9

War Powers Act, 1973

Back 9

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• Congress can pass resolution to have troops withdrawn at any time.

Front 10

Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1974

Back 10

• Established congressional budget committees.
• Established Congressional Budget Office
• 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.

Front 11

Freedom of Information Act, 1974

Back 11

• Allows public access to non-classified federal documents.

Front 12

Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Bill, 1985

Back 12

• 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 led to abandonment in late 80’s.

Front 13

American With Disabilities Act, 1990

Back 13

• Bans job discrimination against disabled if "reasonable accommodation" can be made.
• Requires access to facilities for the handicapped.

Front 14

National Voter Registration Bill (“Motor Voter Act’), 1993

Back 14

• Requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for driver’s licenses, applications, or completing license renewal forms.

Front 15

Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 1993

Back 15

• Restored compelling purpose guideline for courts to use when states restrict religious liberty. Struck down by Supreme Court in Boerne v. Flores.

Front 16

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Back 16

• Requires Congressional Budget Office to analyze impact of unfunded mandates on states.
• Requires separate congressional vote on bills that impose unfunded mandates.
• Banned soft money contributions to national political parties

Front 17

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform Act of 1996)

Back 17

• Ended federal entitlement status of welfare.
• In its place, federal govt. 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.

Front 18

Communications Decency Act (CDA), 1997

Back 18

• Prohibited circulation of “indecent” material on Internet to minors. Struck down by Supreme Court.

Front 19

McCain-Fein gold Bill (Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002)

Back 19

• Raised hard money limits to $2000 and indexed it to inflation
• Banned National Political Parties from raising or spending soft money.

Front 20

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Back 20

• Requires Congressional Budget Office to analyze impact of unfunded mandates on states.
• Requires separate congressional vote on bills that impose unfunded mandates.
• Banned soft money contributions to national political parties

Front 21

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform Act of 1996)

Back 21

• Ended federal entitlement status of welfare.
• In its place, federal govt. 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.

Front 22

Communications Decency Act (CDA), 1997

Back 22

• Prohibited circulation of “indecent” material on Internet to minors. Struck down by Supreme Court.

Front 23

McCain-Fein gold Bill (Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002)

Back 23

• Raised hard money limits to $2000 and indexed it to inflation
• Banned National Political Parties from raising or spending soft money.