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Key moments that shaped how our government works today.
The United States Constitution was ratified, establishing the framework for federal government. It replaced the Articles of Confederation and created the three branches of government that still function today.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union..."
The first ten amendments to the Constitution were ratified, guaranteeing fundamental rights like free speech, religious freedom, and trial by jury. These protections were demanded by Anti-Federalists as a condition for ratifying the Constitution.
Granted 160 acres of federal land to settlers who improved the land for five years. This law transformed the American West, encouraging westward migration and reshaping the nation's geography and demographics.
The first federal law to prohibit monopolistic business practices. It gave the government tools to break up corporate trusts and remains the foundation of American antitrust enforcement to this day.
Track corporate lobbyingSeparated commercial banking from investment banking in the wake of the Great Depression. It created the FDIC to insure bank deposits, restoring public faith in the banking system.
Established the Social Security system, providing old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to dependent children. It created the modern American safety net and remains one of the most consequential laws ever passed.
"This law represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete." — Franklin D. Roosevelt
Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination, transforming American society.
See voting recordsProhibited racial discrimination in voting, striking down literacy tests and other barriers. Federal examiners were empowered to register voters in areas with a history of discrimination.
Established comprehensive federal regulation of air quality, setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This landmark environmental law authorized the EPA to regulate emissions from both stationary and mobile sources.
Required the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action. It sought to check presidential power after the Vietnam War by limiting unauthorized military engagements.
Enacted in response to major corporate accounting scandals like Enron and WorldCom. It established new or expanded requirements for public company boards, management, and accounting firms.
The most significant overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system since Medicare. It expanded coverage to millions of uninsured Americans through insurance marketplaces, Medicaid expansion, and consumer protections.
Track healthcare billsThe most sweeping financial regulatory reform since the Great Depression, enacted in response to the 2008 financial crisis. It created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and imposed new regulations on Wall Street.