AP Gov: Acts to Know

*Americans with Disabilities Act

1990 - Can not discriminate in employment if with “reasonable accommodation” they can perform the job (employer off hook if “undue hardship”), gov’t programs cannot deny access, disabled must have “full and equal access” to public accommodations.

Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act

2002 - Would ban soft money, and tighten the rules for indpt advertising and issues ad, and spending limits on campaigns.

*Civil Rights Act

1964 - Made discrimination based on race, color, national origin or religion illegal in public accomoations, fordade discrimination in employment on basis of above plus gender, created EEOC and said that if a program received a federal grant, can’t discriminate in any program.

*Clean Air Act

1963/1970/1990 Amendments - Authorized federal government to set standards and states had to find ways to meet them, created EPA (Mandate!!!)

*Communications Decency Act

1996 - Banned obscene material and criminalized the transmission of indecent speech or images to anyone under 18 on the web.

Congressional Budget Control and Impoundment Act

1974 - Fixed budget calendar, created a budget committee in each house and created the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) and told President he must spend funds.

*Endangered Species Act

1973 - Established that certain animals will be granted endangered Species protection by the government and prevents destruction of their habitat or species.

*Family Medical Leave Act

1993 - Employers with 50+ employees must provide workers with up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for birth, adoption, or to care for sick family

Federal Elections Campaigns Act

1974 - Created FEC, provided public financing for presidential primaries and presidential general elections, limited presidential campaign spending (if accept matching funds) required disclosure, limited contributions (indiv: $1000 to candidates, $5000 to PAC, $20000 to party; PACs: $5000 to candidate, $15000 to party), limited amount one could spend on own campaign (unconst.) no limits on expenditures for “indpt advertising”

Federal Aid Highway Act

1984 - Withheld federal funds for highways unless the state agreed to make the legal drinkingg age 21.

*Freedom of Information Act

1966 - Gave citizens right to inspect and copy all government records

Health Security Act

Not passed - Clintons failed healthcare - 2 goals to limit rising costs and provided universal coverage - would have done with “health alliances” and required employers to provide health insurance - note since then the “drip drip” aspect of health care policy

Hatch Act

1939 - Limited political activity of federal civil service workers but forbade firing based upon political affiliation in the civil service.

*Help America Vote Act

2002 - Required that all states move to electronic voting methods in order to update voting procedures. Passed in direct response to the 2000 presidential election.

Medicare Act

1965 - Medicare (provided care of elderly - no means test [based on age]), Medicaid (for the poor - means test)

Military Commissions Act

2006 - Authorizes the president to create Military Commissions for the purpose of trying prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Denies habeas corpus rights to alien combatants. Created as a direct response to Hamdan v. Rumsfeld

*Motor Voter Act

1993 - Required states to make registration available when they apply for a new or to renew a drivers’ license

Personal and Work Opportunity Act

1996 - Puts a 5-year limit on welfare, put a 2-year at a time limit, gave state fixed amounts of funds (block grants)

Social Security Act

1935 - insurance program for the unemployed and elderly, assistance program for the blind, dependent children and aged.

Temporary Aid to Needy Families

1996 - federal-state welfare program that provides temporary cash assistance, job training, and support services to low-income families with children. It is designed to help families pay for basic needs—like rent, utilities, and childcare—while promoting work and self-sufficiency.

*Title IX of the Education Act

1972 - Forbids gender discrimination in any education program (including sports) which receives federal funding.

*Voting Rights Act

1965 - Applied to areas with history of voting discrimination, empower fed. officials to register voters, ensure citizens could vote (marshalls, etc), count ballots, outlawed literacy tests.

War Powers Act

1973 - Pres. must notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops and withdraw in 60 days unless Congress authorizes, Congress can pass a resolution, not subject to presidential veto.

Patriot Act

2001 - Allows the government to tap phones, internet, voice mail when pursuing a terrorist suspect. Gov’t can also detain non-citizens indefinitely.

Affordable Healthcare Act

2010 - Created oversight of Health Insurance industry. Created subsidies for low income individuals to obtain private healthcare and set up state exchanges to lower rates of insurance.

Americans with Disabilities Act

1990

Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act

2002

Civil Rights Act

1964

Clean Air Act

1963/1970/1990 Amendments

Communications Decency Act

1996

Congressional Budget Control and Impoundment Act

1974

Endangered Species Act

1973

Family Medical Leave Act

1993

Federal Elections Campaigns Act

1974

Federal Aid Highway Act

1984

Freedom of Information Act

1966

Health Security Act

Not passed

Hatch Act

1939

Help America Vote Act

2002

Medicare Act

1965

Military Commissions Act

2006

Motor Voter Act

1993

Personal and Work Opportunity Act

1996

Social Security Act

1935

Temporary Aid to Needy Families

1996

Title IX of the Education Act

1972

Voting Rights Act

1965

War Powers Act

1973

Patriot Act

2001

Affordable Healthcare Act

2010