Top 10 Acts Of Congress

Front 1

Civil Rights Act 1964

Back 1

-enforces 14th amendment ending Jim Crow in publicly segregated areas
-prohibits discrimination in employment based on race/color/nationality/religion/gender
-makes Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to stop job discrimination
-uses power to regulate interstate commerce to stop segregation

Front 2

The Voting Rights act of 1965

Back 2

-outlaws disenfranchisement of blacks i.e. literacy tests
-provides federal oversight in voter registration areas with a history of discrimination
--> improves voter registration gap between blacks and whites

Front 3

The Clean Air Act 1970

Back 3

(increases power of federal government relative to state governments)
-establishes national air quality standards
-requires states to administer these standards and appropriate funds for implementation
-allow private citizens to bring suits against individuals/corporations that violate this

Front 4

The War Powers Resolution (1973)

Back 4

-gives congress a greater voice in presidential decisions regarding the military overseas
-requires that the president notify congress within 48 hours of deploying troops
-requires president to bring troops home within 60-90 days unless congress extends this time

Front 5

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Back 5

-enacted to help congress regain powers previously lost to the executive branch
-created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to evaluate the president’s budget
-established a budget process that includes setting overall levels of revenues and expenditures

Front 6

The Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)

Back 6

-created the federal election commission
-tightened reporting requirements for campaign contributions
-provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election

Front 7

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

Back 7

-increased power of the federal government relative to states:
-requires employers/public facilities to make ‘reasonable accommodations’ for people with disabilities
-prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment
-extends protections of the civil rights act to people with physical/mental disabilities

Front 8

Welfare Reform Act (1996)

Back 8

-increased power of states relative to Gov.:
-replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children with block grants --> states
-illustrated devolution b/c it gave states greater discretion about how to implement a federal goal of transferring people from welfare --> work

Front 9

No Child Left Behind Act (2001)

Back 9

-requires states to set standards and measurable goals to improve individual outcomes in education
-requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades
-represents a dramatic expansion of the federal role in education

Front 10

USA Patriot Act (2001)

Back 10

-expands the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism
-authorized searches of a home or business without owner’s or occupant’s permission or knowledge
-increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search phone/email/medical/financial etc. records `