The Tenth Amendment gives power to individual states in the US, with the Uniform Law Commission drafting laws for consistency across state lines. The Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA) addresses legal issues of marriage and divorce, with 27 states accepting it. UPAA only applies to legal marriages, with Section 1 stating it does not cover […]
The Copyright Act of 1976 updated previous US copyright laws to include new forms of media and international protections. It defines copyright as legal protection for creative works fixed on a tangible medium, giving exclusive rights to the author or employer. The act also includes legal qualifications for fair use. The Copyright Act of 1976 […]
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a US federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman, giving states the power to determine their own laws regarding marriage and benefits. It was passed in 1996 and Section 3 was declared unconstitutional in 2013. DOMA was intended to expand states’ rights on marriage […]
The Glass-Steagall Act, passed in 1933, aimed to prevent imprudent financial speculation by separating commercial and investment banks. The act also created the FDIC to protect depositors. The act was largely repealed in 1999 with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, allowing banks to merge and underwrite insurance. The Glass-Steagall Act (GSA), passed by the Senate in 1933, […]
The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act, protects private sector workers’ ability to form unions and engage in business with such groups. It prevents legal retaliation against workers for entering into collective agreements or for striking. The law does not cover railway workers, agricultural workers, and government office workers. The National […]
The Labor-Management Relations Act, also known as the Taft-Hartley Act, was passed in the US in 1947. It limits union activities, strengthens management rights, and introduces rules for strikes and boycotts. The law was created in response to radicalism and communist activities after World War II. Despite limitations on union funding of federal candidates, unions […]
The Agricultural Adjustment Act was a New Deal reform designed to assist struggling farmers by providing subsidies and quotas on agricultural production. It paid farmers to produce less to increase demand and raise prices, but was controversial due to destroying food while people went hungry. The 1938 act corrected some issues, but the practice of […]
The Reconstruction Act was a series of laws passed by Congress between 1867 and 1868 after the American Civil War. The acts divided the Confederacy into military districts and empowered military leaders to assist in registering African-American male voters and establishing new governments in former Confederate states. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the First Reconstruction Act, […]
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination and barriers. It has five main sections, or titles, that cover employment, state and local government activities, private enterprise accessibility, telephone services, and federal agency guidance. The ADA was amended in 2008 to broaden its interpretation. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a […]
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 established the US central banking system, the Federal Reserve, to regulate and monitor the country’s credit and financial system. It was the first major legislation to create a central bank, following the dissolution of the First and Second Banks of the United States. The act was designed to tame […]
The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) prevents employers from firing employees for wage garnishment due to a single debt and sets a maximum amount for withholding from paychecks. Wage garnishment only applies when required by law and does not include voluntary agreements. The CCPA applies to personal income in the US and its territories, with […]
The Embargo Act of 1807 was passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President Thomas Jefferson in an attempt to display economic and military neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars. However, the law had unintended consequences, including damage to the American economy and continued trade with Britain. The act was eventually repealed, and […]
The Job Training Partnership Act was a 1982 law aimed at improving employment prospects for disadvantaged groups. It funded education, job skills, and employment assistance programs, including the Job Corps and summer job programs. It also helped laid-off workers, veterans, Native Americans, and migrant farm workers. The law was replaced by the Workforce Investment Act […]
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requires most foods sold to consumers to provide nutrition information on their containers to inform consumers about the nutritional value of food and help them make healthier food choices. It established guidelines for food manufacturers to include information about servings, calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, cholesterol, sugars, sodium, and […]
The US and UK have laws to ban gender-based pay discrimination. The UK’s Equal Pay Act requires equal pay for the same work, experience, and expertise. The US’s Equal Pay Act evaluates gender and was added to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Despite these laws, women are still not paid equally and enforcement is not […]
HUD introduced RESPA to control and explain home loan closing costs. Loan applicants receive a good faith estimate, a comprehensive list of all closing costs associated with a home loan, to avoid last minute expenses and surprises. RESPA prohibits commissions, referral fees, and kickbacks charged as inflated closing costs. It mandates equal treatment of all […]
The Meat Inspection Act requires animals for human consumption to be inspected before slaughter and establishes cleanliness standards for slaughterhouses and meat processing establishments. It was signed into law in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt to ensure food safety and humane slaughter practices. The act also allows for the inspection of farms and the rejection […]
The Clean Air Act has had several versions since the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955. The act aimed to address air pollution, set standards for pollutant emissions, and reduce or eliminate toxic chemical emissions. Amendments have been made to address compliance timelines and vehicle pollution. The latest version, revised in 1990, set specific limits […]
The Federal Employers Liability Act was passed in 1906 to compensate and protect railroad workers from misconduct and negligence. It requires workers to sue the company and relies on a jury to determine compensation. Workers can sue for lost wages, medical bills, and additional compensation for pain and suffering. Enacted in 1906, the Federal Employers […]
The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 shifted the responsibility of regulating the US economy from individual states to the federal government, creating the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). The act required rail and shipping rates to be reasonable and fair, outlawed secret discounts and price discrimination, and gave the ICC the power to enforce its provisions […]
