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 plus sex

Question 3

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer 3

Suspends literacy tests; empowered officials to register voters/ensure citizens to vote/count ballots prohibited states from changing voting procedures w/o 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-90s

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Federal Election Campaign Acts, 1971-1974

Answer 6

Created FEC; requires disclosure of contributions/spending, limitations and subsidies for pres candidate contribution/spending

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

Pres could send troops overseas to an area where hostilities were imminent only if: notified Congress within 48 hrs, withdrew troops within 60-90 days, consulted with Congress if troops were engaged in combat

Question 9

Freedom of Information Act, 1974

Answer 9

Allows public access to nonclassified fed documents

Question 10

Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1974

Answer 10

Established congressional budget committees, CBO, extend budget process by 3 months

Question 11

Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Bill, 1985

Answer 11

Set gradual budget reduction targets to lead to a balanced budget. Across-the-board budget cuts to kick in if targets not met. Loopholes let to abandonment in late 80s.

Question 12

Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990

Answer 12

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

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Religious Freedom Restoration Act. 1993

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Answer 15

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

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Ended federal entitlement status of welfare, and in its place, the fed gov’t gave block grants to states to administer welfare (with restrictions)

Question 17

Communications Decency Act (CDA), 1997

Answer 17

Prohibited circulation of “indecent” material on Internet to minors. Struck down by Supreme Court.

Question 18

No Child Left Behind Act, 2001

Answer 18

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

Question 19

USA Patriot Act, 2001

Answer 19

Strengthens the fed gov’t power to conduct surveillance, perform searches, and detain individuals in order to combat terrorism

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Raised hard money limits to $2000; banned soft money contributions to national political parties

Question 21

Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) 2010

Answer 21

Required all Americans to purchase health insurance; eliminated lifetime caps; patients w/ pre-existing conditions could not be denied coverage or have to pay higher premiums; grants were provided to states that expanded Medicaid