Legislation Year Description

Hatch Act 1939 Limits political activities of civil service employees.

Civil Rights Act 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, and allows class action law suits.
Voting Rights Act 1965 Suspended literacy tests; prohibited states from changing voting procedures without federal
permission; and empowered federal officials to do the following: register voters, ensure
citizens could vote, and count ballots.
Age Discrimination in 1967 Bans age discrimination for jobs unless age is related to job performance.
Employment Act
Air Quality Act (1967) Established emissions standards for cars and factories. Established minimum standards for
and Various Clean Air states.
Acts (1960s-1990s)
F e d e r a l E l e c t i o n 1971- Created the FEC; required disclosure of contributions and expenditures; provided limitations
Campaign Acts 1974 on contributions and presidential expenditures; and provided subsidies for presidential
candidates.
Title IX of Education 1972 Prohibited gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs.
Act
War Powers Act 1973 President could send troops overseas to an area where hostilities were imminent only if:
Congress is notified within 48 hours; he withdraws troops between 60-90 days; he consults
with Congress if troops were to engage in combat. Congress can pass a resolution to withdraw
troops at any time.
Freedom of Information 1974 Allows public access to nonclassified government documents.
Act
Budget a n d 1974 Established congressional budget committees; established CBO; extended budget process by
Impoundment Control three months, allows either house to override temporary impoundment (deferral); and
Act automatically void permanent impoundment (rescission) unless both houses approve within 45
days.
G r a m m - R u d m a n - 1985 Set gradual budget reduction targets to lead to a balanced budget. Across-the-board budget
Hollings Bill cuts (sequestering of funds) to kick in if targets not met. Too many loopholes and abandoned
in late 80s.
A m e r i c a n s w i t h 1990 Bans job discrimination against the disabled if reasonable accommodations can be made.
Disabilities Act Requires access to facilitates for the handicap. Example of unfunded mandate by the fed. govt.
N a t i o n a l V o t e r 1993 Requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for drivers licenses
Registration Bill applications or completing license renewal forms.
(Motor Voter Act)
R e l i g i o u s F r e e d o m 1993 Restored compelling purpose guidelines for courts to use when states restrict religious liberty.
Restoration Act Struck down by Supreme Court in Boerne v. Flores.
Unfunded Mandates 1995 Requires CBO to analyze impact of unfunded mandates on states. Requires separate
Reform Act congressional vote on bills that impose unfunded mandates.
Personal Responsibility 1996 Ended the federal entitlement status of welfare. In its place, federal government gave block
and Work Opportunity grants to states to administer welfare. Strings attached to these grants: recipients must work
Reconciliation Act within 2 years and recipients cannot receive benefits for more than 5 years.
(Welfare Reform Act)
C o m m u n i c a t i o n s 1997 Prohibited circulation of indecent material on internet to minors. Struck down by the
Decency Act Supreme Court in Reno v. ACLU.
No Child Left Behind 2001 States must adopt education accountability standards; states must annually test students; and
Act sanctions against schools that fail to meet adequate yearly progress.
USA Patriot Act 2001 Strengthens the federal governments power to conduct surveillance, perform searches, and
detain individuals in order to combat terrorism.
C a m p a i g n F i n a n c e 2002 Raised hard money limits to $2000 and banned soft money contributions to national political
Reform Act ("McCain- parties.
Feingold Bill")
Military Commissions 2006 To authorize trial by military commission for violations of the law of war, and for other
Act purposes. In response to Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Amended in 2009 to restrict coerced and
hearsay evidence and provide greater defense counsel resources.
Patient Protection and 2010 This act was to reform the private health insurance market, provide better coverage for those
Affordable Care Act with pre-existing conditions, improve prescription drug coverage in Medicare and extend the
(Obamacare) life of the Medicare Trust fund. Amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation
Act of 2010. Mandate passed constitutional muster in Sebelius Case in 2012.