Key Legislation

Hatch Act, 1939:

Limits political activities of civil service employees

Civil Rights Act of 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 + gender

Voting Rights Act of 1965:

suspended literacy tests, empowered federal officils to register voters & ensure that citizens could vote & count ballots, prohibited states from changing voting procedures without federal permission

Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 1967:

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

Air Quality Act, 1967 and Varous Clean Air Acts, 1971 - 1974

Established emission standards for cars and factories, established minimum standards for states

Federal Election Campaign Acts, 1971 - 1974

Created FEC, required disclosure of contributions and expenditures, provided limitations on contributions and presidential election expenditures, provided subsidies for presidential candidates.

Title IX of Education Act of 1972:

Prohibited gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs

War Powers Act, 1973

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Congress can pass resolution to have troops withdrawn at any time

Freedom of Information Act, 1974

Allows public access to nonclassifed federal documents

Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1974

Established congressional budget committees, CBo & extended budget process by 3 months. Allows either house to override temporary impoundment (deferral), automatically voids permanent impoundment (rescission) unless both houses approve within 45 days.

Gramm - Rudman - Hollings Bill, 1985:

Set gradual budget reduction targets to leads to a balanced budget,

Across - the board budget cuts to kick in if targets not met

Loopholes → abandonment in late 80s

Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990

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

National Voter registration Bill "(“Motor Voter Act”), 1993:

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

Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 1993:

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

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995:

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

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

Ended federal entitlement status of welfare, in its place, federal govt. gave block grants to states to administer welfare. “Strings” attached to these grants:

• Recipients must work within 2 years

• Recipients cannot receive benefits for more than 5 years

Defense of Marriage Act, 1996:

States need not recognize same - sex marriages

No Child Left Behind Act, 2001:

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

USA Patriot Act, 2001:

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

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

Riased hard money limites to $2000, and banned soft money contributions to national political parties