Us Gov't Ap: Key Legislation

Front 1

Requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for driver's license applications or completing license renewal forms.

Back 1

National Voter Registration Bill ("Motor Voter Act"), 1993

Front 2

Created FEC.
Required disclosure of contributions and expenditures.
Provided limitations on contributions and presidential election expeditures.
Provided subsidies for presidential candidates.

Back 2

Federal Election Campaign Acts, 1971-1974

Front 3

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 80's.

Back 3

Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Bill, 1985

Front 4

President could send troops overseas to an area where hostilities were imminent only if: 1) He notified Congress within 48 hours, 2) He withdrew troops within 60-90 days, 3) He consulted with Congress if troops were to engage in combat
Congress can pass resolution to have troops withdrawn at any time.

Back 4

War Powers Act, 1973

Front 5

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 recieve benefits for more than 5 years.

Back 5

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

Front 6

Established congressional budget committees.
Establish CBO.
Extended budget process by three months.
Allows wither house to override temporary impoundment (deferral).
Automatically voide permanent impoundment (rescission) unless both houses approve within 45 days.

Back 6

Budget and Impoundment Act, 1974

Front 7

Allows public access to nonclassified federal documents.

Back 7

Freedom of Information Act, 1974

Front 8

Limits political activities of civil service employees.

Back 8

Hatch Act, 1939

Front 9

Required environmental impact reports before major projects began.

Back 9

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

Front 10

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.

Back 10

Judiciary Act, 1789

Front 11

Overhauled federal bureaucracy by replacing the spoils system with the merit system.
Began Civil Service Commission to screen applicants.

Back 11

Pendleton Act, 1881

Front 12

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.

Back 12

Equal Pay Act, 1963

Front 13

Gave president (Johnson) power to send unlimited number of troops for unlimited time.
Later limited by War Powers Act.
Enormous boost to “imperial presidency.”

Back 13

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964

Front 14

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.

Back 14

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Front 15

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.

Back 15

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Front 16

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

Back 16

Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 1967

Front 17

Established emissions standards for cars and factories.
Established minimum standards for states.

Back 17

Air Quality Act, 1967 and various Clean Air Acts, 1960s-1990s

Front 18

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.

Back 18

Title IX of Education Act of 1972

Front 19

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.

Back 19

Airline Deregulation Act, 1978

Front 20

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.

Back 20

Gun-Free School Zones Act, 1980

Front 21

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.

Back 21

Voting Rights Act of 1982

Front 22

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

Back 22

Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990

Front 23

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.

Back 23

Brady Act, 1993

Front 24

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.

Back 24

Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 1993

Front 25

Requires CBO to analyze impact of unfunded mandates on states.
Requires separate congressional vote on bills that impose unfunded mandates.

Back 25

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Front 26

Prohibited circulation of "indecent" material on internet to minors. Struck down by Supreme Court.

Back 26

Communications Decency Act (CDA), 1997

Front 27

States must adopt education accountability standards.
States must annually test students.
Sanctions against schools that fail to meet adequate yearly progress.

Back 27

No Child Left Behind Act, 2001

Front 28

Strengthens the federal government's power to conduct surveillance, perform searches and detain
individuals in order to combat terrorism.

Back 28

USA Patriot Act, 2001

Front 29

Raised hard money limits to $2000.
Banned soft money contributions to national political parties.

Back 29

McCain-Feingold Bill (Campaign Finance Reform Act), 2002: