Term
| Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) |
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Definition
| Requires employers and public facilities to make “reasonable accommodations” for the disabled and prohibits discrimination against the disabled in employment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Makes racial discrimination in hotels and restaurants illegal and forbids job discrimination. |
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Term
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Definition
| Helped end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage. |
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Definition
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Definition
| Requires municipalities and industries to use pollution-control technologies and obtain EPA permits to discharge waste into waters. |
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Term
| Endangered Species Act (1973) |
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Definition
| Requires federal government to protect endangered species regardless of economic impacts. |
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Term
| National Environmental Policy Act (1969) |
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Definition
| Requires environmental impact statements for development projects. |
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Term
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Definition
| Health care for the poor. |
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Term
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Definition
| Health care for elderly. Added to Social Security System. |
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Term
| Social Security Act (1935) |
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Definition
| Provides minimal level of sustenance to elderly. |
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Term
| National Labor Relations Act (1935) |
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Definition
| aka Wagner Act. Allows collective bargaining. |
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Term
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Definition
| Allows president to halt labor strikes. Workers not required to join unions. |
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Term
| No Child Left Behind Act (2001) |
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Definition
| Requires states to set high academic standards and support all students in meeting those standards. |
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Term
| Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (1974) |
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Definition
| Allowed Congress to meet its own budget goals and be less reliant on president’s budget. |
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Term
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Definition
| Law limiting deficits and requiring a balanced budget. Abandoned in 1991. |
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Term
| War Powers Resolution (1973) |
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Definition
| Requires president to consult with Congress before using force and withdraw forces after 60 days if no Congressional support. |
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Term
| Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) |
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Definition
| Creates federal civil service with hiring and promotion based on merit, not patronage. |
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Term
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Definition
| Reduces restrictions on government gathering intelligence, regulating financial transactions, and detaining and deporting terrorism suspects. |
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Term
| Federal Election Campaign Act (1974) |
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Definition
| Limits presidential campaign spending, attempted to limit contributions, required disclosure of campaign finance information, provided public financing for presidential campaigns, and established Federal Election Commission. |
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Term
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Definition
| Prohibits government employees from participation in partisan politics. |
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Term
| McCain-Feingold Act (2002) |
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Definition
| Regulates political party use of “soft money,” issue advocacy ads. |
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Term
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Definition
| Permits voter registration when applying for driver’s license. |
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