Key Legislation

Question 1

Hatch Act, 1939

Answer 1

Limits political activities of civil service employees.

Question 2

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 1967

Answer 4

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Federal Election Campaign Acts, 1971-1974

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Title IX of Education Act of 1972

Answer 7

Prohibited gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs.

Question 8

War Powers Act, 1973

Answer 8

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Congress can pass resolution to have troops withdrawn at any time.

Question 9

Freedom of Information Act, 1974

Answer 9

Allows public access to nonclassifed federal documents.

Question 10

Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1974

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990

Answer 11

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

Question 12

National Voter Registration Bill (“Motor Voter Act”), 1993

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Answer 13

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

Question 14

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

Answer 14

• 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 receive benefits for more than 5 years.

Question 15

Defense of Marriage Act, 1996

Answer 15

• States need not recognize same-sex marriages

Question 16

No Child Left Behind Act, 2001

Answer 16

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

Question 17

USA Patriot Act, 2001

Answer 17

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

Question 18

McCain-Feingold Bill (Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002

Answer 18

• Raised hard money limits to $2000

* Banned soft money contributions to national political parties

Question 19

Health Care Reform Bill of 2010 (“Affordable Health Care for America Act”)

Answer 19

• Insurance companies cannot ban coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Requires people to buy health insurance. Fines people who do not do so.
• Provides subsidies for those with low incomes to help pay for health insurance.
• Expands Medicaid coverage for those with low incomes.
• Raises Medicare tax on people with high incomes.
• Imposes “Cadillac tax” on people with costly health care insurance.
• Fines large employers that do not provide health care insurance to employees.
• Imposes yearly fees on pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and medical device makers.