Major Acts of Congress from 1789 – 1889
1st Congress (Mar 4, 1789 – Mar 3, 1791): George Washington
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
1st |
1 Stat. 24 |
Tariff Act of 1789 |
Jul 4, 1789 |
Establish procedures to raise money to pay Government wages and obligations and to fund Federal debt |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 28 |
Department of Foreign Affairs |
Jul 27, 1789 |
Establish Department of Foreign Affairs |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 49 |
Department of War |
August 7, 1789 |
Establish Department of War |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 65 |
Department of Treasury |
Sep 2, 1789 |
Establish Treasury Department |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 68 |
Department of State |
Sep 15, 1789 |
Change name of Department of Foreign Affairs to Department of State |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 70 |
Office of Postmaster General |
Sep 22, 1789 |
Provide for the temporary appointment of a Postmaster General |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 73 |
Judiciary Act of 1789 |
Sep 24, 1789 |
Establish the Federal Courts system |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 101 |
First Census |
Mar 1, 1790 |
Provide for apportionment of Representatives and establish decennial census |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 103 |
Uniform Rule of Naturalization |
Mar 26, 1790 |
Establish a uniform rule for naturalization of free white persons |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 109 |
First Patent Law |
Apr 10, 1790 |
Establish a 3-man board with power to grant patents |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 124 |
First Copyright Law |
May 31, 1790 |
Provide copyright protection for plays, maps, and books |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 130 |
Permanent Seat of Government |
Jul 16, 1790 |
Provide for establishment of the Capital |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 138 |
Funding and Assumption Act of 1790 |
Aug 4, 1790 |
Provide for Federal government assumption of debts incurred by the States as a result of their participation in the Revolutionary War |
|
1st
|
1 Stat. 191 |
First Bank of the U.S. |
Feb 25, 1791 |
Incorporate the Bank of the U.S. |
|
1st |
1 Stat. 199 |
First Internal Revenue Law |
Mar 3, 1791 |
Create revenue districts and imposed a tax on distilled liquors |
2nd Congress (Oct 24, 1791 – Mar 2, 1793): George Washington
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
2nd |
1 Stat. 239 |
Presidential Succession Act |
Mar 1, 1792 |
Provide for succession in case the President and Vice President are both removed, resign, or die |
|
2nd |
1 Stat. 246 |
First Mint |
Apr 2, 1792 |
Authorize establishment of the first U.S. Mint |
|
2nd |
1 Stat. 271 |
Militia Act |
May 8, 1792 |
Require “each and every free able-bodied white male citizen” between the ages of 18 and 45 to serve in a State militia. |
|
2nd |
1 Stat. 302 |
Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 |
Feb 12, 1793 |
Empower owners of fugitive slaves, or their agents, to seize fugitive slaves and return them to servitude |
3rd Congress (Dec 2, 1793 – Mar 3, 1795): Administration of George Washington
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
3rd
|
1 Stat. 350 |
Formation of U.S. Navy |
Mar 27, 1794 |
Authorize the construction and manning of frigates and establish procedures for pay of Navy personnel |
|
3rd
|
1 Stat 381 |
Neutrality Act |
Jun 5, 1794 |
Prohibit U.S. citizens from enlisting in the services of any foreign power and prohibit the fitting out of foreign vessels in U.S. ports |
|
3rd
|
1 Stat. 414
|
Naturalization Act |
Jan 29, 1795 |
Establish procedures for resident aliens to become U.S. citizens |
4th Congress (Dec 7, 1795 – Mar 3, 1797): George Washington
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
4th |
1 Stat. 464 |
Land Act of 1796 |
May 18, 1796 |
Provide for surveys of public lands within the Northwest Territory and establish procedures for auction of public lands |
|
4th |
1 Stat. 469 |
An Act to Regulate Trade and Intercourse with the Indian Tribes |
May 19, 1796 |
Establish a boundary line between the U.S. and various Indian tribes, beyond which only Indians had the right to hunt, trap, and fish |
|
4th |
Stat. 477 |
An Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen |
May 28, 1796 |
Authorize investigation of impressment and detention of U.S. seamen into the naval service of foreign government s |
5th Congress (May 15, 1797 – Mar 3, 1799): John Adams
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 552 |
Naval Armament for the Protection of American Commerce |
Apr 27, 1798 |
Authorize the acquisition of naval vessels |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 553 |
Department of the Navy |
Apr 30, 1798 |
Establish the Department of Navy |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 566 |
Naturalization Act (First Alien and Sedition Act) |
Jun 18, 1798 |
Revise procedures for resident aliens to become U.S. citizens |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 570 |
Alien Act (Second Alien and Sedition Act) |
Jun 25, 1798 |
Provide the President with authority to deport aliens adjudged to be undesirable and require the licensing of certain other aliens |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 577 |
Alien Enemies Act (Third Alien and Sedition Act) |
Jul 6, 1798 |
Authorize the President to apprehend, detain, and deport resident aliens who are subjects of a foreign power at war with the U.S. |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 594 |
Marine Corps Act |
Jul 11, 1798 |
Organize the Marine Corps into a distinct Service of the U.S. Government |
|
5th |
1 Stat. 596 |
Sedition Act (Fourth Alien and Sedition Act) |
Jul 14, 1798 |
Provide for the arrest and imprisonment of any person who attempts to impede lawful processes of government, foment insurrection or write, publish or utter false or malicious statements about the President, Vice President, Congress or Government of the U.S. |
6th Congress (Dec 2, 1799 – Mar 3, 1801): Administration of John Adams
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
6th |
2 Stat. 19 |
First Federal Bankruptcy Law |
Apr 4, 1800 |
Establish a uniform system of bankruptcy |
|
6th |
2 Stat. 55 |
Removal of Government to Washington |
Apr 24, 1800 |
Provide for the removal of the U.S. Government to Washington, D.C. |
|
6th |
2 Stat. 58 |
Indiana and Ohio Territories |
May 7, 1800 |
Divide the Northwest Territory into the Indian and Ohio Territories |
|
6th |
2 Stat. 89 |
Judiciary Act of 1801 |
Feb 13, 1801 |
Revise the Federal Court System |
7th Congress (Dec 7, 1801 – Mar 3, 1803): Administration of Thomas Jefferson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
7th |
2 Stat. 137 |
U.S. Military Academy |
Mar 16, 1802 |
Authorize the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. |
|
7th |
2 Stat. 156-167 |
Repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801 |
Apr 29, 1802 |
Revise the Federal Court System |
|
7th |
2 Stat. 173-175 |
First Enabling Act |
Apr 30, 1802 |
Establish procedures for the Ohio Territory to become a State |
8th Congress (Oct 17, 1803 – Mar 3, 1805): Thomas Jefferson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
8th |
2 Stat. 274 |
Second National Bank Act |
Mar 23, 1804 |
Authorize U.S. Bank officials to establish offices in any part of the territories or dependencies of the U.S. |
9th Congress (Dec 2, 1805 – Mar 3, 1807): Thomas Jefferson
|
Congress |
Citation
|
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
9th |
2 Stat. 357-359 |
Cumberland Road Act |
Mar 29, 1806 |
Authorize the construction of a national road between Cumberland, Md., and Wheeling, W.Va. |
|
9th |
2 Stat. 379-381 |
Non-Importation Act |
Apr 18, 1806 |
Prohibit the importation of certain British goods |
|
9th |
2 Stat. 421 |
Judiciary Act of 1807 |
Feb 24, 1807 |
Increase the number of Supreme Court Justices from six to seven |
|
9th |
2 Stat. 426-430 |
Slave Trade Prohibition Act |
Mar 2, 1807 |
Prohibit the importation of slaves into U.S. after Jan 1, 1808. |
10th Congress (Oct 26, 1807 – Mar 3, 1809): Thomas Jefferson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
10th |
2 Stat. 451-453 |
Embargo Act of 1807 |
Dec 22, 1807 |
Embargo all ships and vessels in U.S. ports and harbors to prevent them from engaging in commercial activities with foreign countries |
|
10th |
2 Stat. 528-533 |
Non-Intercourse Act |
Mar 1, 1809 |
Repeal the Embargo Act of 1807 and reopen trade with all nations except Great Britain and France |
11th Congress (May 22, 1809 – Mar 3, 1811): Administration of James Madison
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
11th |
2 Stat. 605-606 |
Macon’s Bill Number 2 |
May 1, 1810 |
Authorize the restoration of trade with Britain and France on the condition that they recognize American neutrality |
|
11th |
3 Stat. 471-472
|
Extension of U.S. Rule Over West Florida |
Jan 15, 1811 |
Authorize the President to occupy certain territories in West Florida |
12th Congress (Nov 4, 1811 – Mar 3, 1813): James Madison
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
12th |
2 Stat. 755 |
Declaration of War Against Great Britain and Ireland |
Jun 18, 1812 |
Declare war against Great Britain and Ireland and authorize the President to use land and naval forces to carry out the war |
|
12th |
2 Stat. 708-709 |
Act to Enlarge the Limits of the State of Louisiana |
Apr 14, 1812 |
Annex certain West Florida lands to Louisiana |
|
12th |
2 Stat. 734 |
Act to Enlarge the Boundaries of the Mississippi Territory |
May 14, 1812 |
Annex certain West Florida lands to Mississippi |
13th Congress (May 24, 1813 – Mar 3, 1815): James Madison
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
13th |
3 Stat. 195 |
Purchase of the Library of Thomas Jefferson |
Jan 30, 1815 |
Authorize the purchase of the library of Thomas Jefferson for use by Congress |
|
13th |
3 Stat. 217-218 |
Reduction of Naval Establishment |
Feb 27, 1815 |
Provide for the sale of certain naval vessels |
|
13th |
3 Stat. 224-225 |
Fixing the Peacetime Military Establishment |
Mar 3, 1815 |
Establish a peacetime standing army |
|
13th |
3 Stat. 230 |
Declaration of War Against Algiers |
Mar 3, 1815 |
Declare war against Algiers in response to actions against U.S. ships and demands for payment of tribute |
14th Congress (Dec 4, 1815 – Mar 3, 1817): James Madison
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
14th |
3 Stat. 266 |
Second Bank of the U.S. |
Apr 10, 1816 |
Establish and capitalize the Second Bank of the U.S. |
|
14th |
3 Stat. 310 |
First Protective Tariff |
Apr 27, 1816 |
Establish heavy duties on certain foreign imports |
15th Congress (Dec 1, 1817 – Mar 3, 1819): James Monroe
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
15th |
3 Stat. 415 |
Flag of the U.S. |
Apr 4, 1818 |
Establish the Stars and of the U.S. flag |
|
15th |
3 Stat. 488 |
First Immigration Law |
Mar 2, 1819 |
Establish rules and procedures for passenger ships bringing immigrants to the U.S., including establishment of a numerical registry of immigration |
16th Congress (Dec 6, 1819 – Mar 3, 1821): James Monroe
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
16th
|
3 Stat. 544 |
Missouri Compromise |
Mar 3, 1819 |
Authorize the admission of Maine to the Union as a free State |
|
16th |
3 Stat. 545 |
Missouri Compromise |
Mar 6, 1820 |
Permit the people of the proposed State of Missouri to draw up a constitution under which they decide whether or not to permit slavery, and prohibit slavery in the Louisiana Purchase north of the line 36 30’ except in Missouri |
17th Congress (Dec 3, 1821 – Mar 3, 1823): James Monroe
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
17th |
3 Stat. 678 |
Latin American Republics Act |
May 4, 1822 |
Appropriate funds to establish diplomatic missions in the newly independent countries of Columbia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru |
18th Congress (Dec 1, 1823 – Mar 3, 1825): James Monroe
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
18th |
4 Stat. 22 |
General Survey Act |
Apr 30, 1824 |
Empower the President to initiate surveys and estimates regarding the costs of building roads and canals for military, commercial, or postal purposes |
|
18th |
4 Stat. 25 |
Tariff Act of 1824 |
May 22, 1824 |
Increase tariff rates on certain items, including cotton goods, raw wool, and iron |
19th Congress (Dec 5, 1825 – Mar 3, 1827): John Quincy Adams
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
| 19th | 4 Stat. 158 | Mission at the Panama Conference | May 4, 1826 | Appropriate funds to send envoys and ministers to the Panama Conference of 1826 |
20th Congress (Dec 3, 1827 – Mar 3, 1829): John Quincy Adams
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
20th |
4 Stat. 270 |
Tariff of Abominations |
May 19, 1828 |
Raise duties on imported goods to a general rate of 41% |
21st Congress (Dec 7, 1829 – Mar 3, 1831): Andrew Jackson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
21st |
4 Stat. 411 |
Indian Removal Act |
May 28, 1830 |
Provide for the general resettlement of Indians to lands west of the Mississippi |
|
21st |
4 Stat. 419 |
Renewing of Commercial Intercourse Between the U.S. and Certain Colonies of Great Britain |
May 29, 1830 |
Authorize the President to open the ports of the U.S. as soon as British colonial were opened to the U.S. vessels without discrimination |
22nd Congress (Dec 5, 1831 – Mar 2, 1833): Andrew Jackson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
22nd |
4 Stat. 583 |
Tariff Act of 1832 |
Jul 14, 1832 |
Lower duties on many imported goods |
|
22nd |
4 Stat. 629 |
Compromise Tariff Bill |
Mar 2, 1833 |
Add many imported items to the tariff-free list and provide for gradual reduction of many other duties |
|
22nd |
4 Stat. 632 |
Force Bill |
Mar 2, 1833 |
Authorize the President to use the army and navy as necessary to execute revenue laws and collect custom duties |
23rd Congress (Dec 2, 1833 – Mar 3, 1835): Andrew Jackson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
23rd |
4 Stat. 735 |
Department of Indian Affairs |
Jun 30, 1834 |
Provide for the organization of Department of Indian Affairs within Department of War |
24th Congress (Dec 7, 1835 – Mar 3, 1837): Andrew Jackson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
24th |
5 Stat. 52 |
Deposit Act |
Jun 23, 1836 |
Require Department of Treasury to designate at least one bank in each State and territory as a place of public deposit of U.S. funds, and provide for the distribution of surplus revenue among the States |
|
24th
|
5 Stat. 176 |
Enlargement of Supreme Court |
Mar 3, 1837 |
Increase the number of the Supreme Court Justices from seven to nine |
26th Congress (Dec 2, 1839 – Mar 3, 1841): Martin Van Buren
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
26th |
5 Stat. 385 |
Independent Treasury Act of 1840 |
Jul 4, 1840 |
Establish Federal depositories independent of State banks and private business, and establish sub-treasuries at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New Orleans, Washington and Charleston |
27th Congress (May 31, 1841 – Mar 3, 1843): John Tyler
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
27th |
5 Stat. 439 |
Repeal of the Independent Treasury Act of 1840 |
Aug 13, 1841 |
Order the removal of all Government funds from the depositories established under the Independent Treasury Act of 1840 |
|
27th |
5 Stat. 548 |
Tariff Act of 1842 |
Aug 30, 1842 |
Increase tariff rates and end the distribution of revenues to the States |
28th Congress (Dec 4, 1843 – Mar 3, 1845): John Tyler
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
28th |
5 Stat. 721 |
Establishment of Uniform Election Day for Presidential Electors |
Jan 23, 1845 |
Designate the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day for Presidential electors |
|
28th |
5 Stat. 797 |
Texas Annexation Resolution |
Mar 1, 1845 |
Declare the consent of Congress to the establishment of Texas as a State and its admission to the Union |
29th Congress (Dec 1, 1845 – Mar 3, 1847): James K. Polk
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
29th |
9 Stat. 9 |
Declaration of War with Mexico |
May 13, 1846 |
Declare that the war was begun by Mexico, appropriate funds to conclude war, and empower the President to use the army and navy |
|
29th |
9 Stat. 42 |
Walker Tariff Act |
Jul 30, 1846 |
Reduce tariff rates |
|
29th |
9 Stat. 59 |
Independent Treasury Act of 1846 |
Aug 6, 1846 |
Establish sub-treasuries for the deposit of Government money and stipulate that all payments made to and by the Government must be in gold, silver or Treasury notes |
|
29th |
9 Stat. 201 |
Postage Stamp Act |
Mar 3, 1847 |
Authorize use of adhesive postage stamps |
30th Congress (Dec 6, 1847 – Mar 3, 1849): James K. Polk
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
30th |
9 Stat. 323 |
Oregon Bill |
Aug 14, 1848 |
Establish a territorial government for Oregon that prohibits slavery |
|
30th
|
9 Stat. 395 |
Department of the Interior |
Mar 3, 1849 |
Establish the Department of Interior with responsibilities for the census, Indians, public lands, and patents |
31st Congress (Dec 3, 1849 – Mar 3, 1851): Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
31st |
9 Stat. 446 |
Texas and New Mexico Act |
Sep 9, 1850 |
Establish Texas boundaries, authorize compensation to Texas for relinquishing claims to New Mexico, and provide that New Mexico be admitted to the Union with or without slavery, as determined by its constitution |
|
31st |
9 Stat. 452 |
Admission of California as a Free State |
Sep 9, 1850 |
Provide for the admission of California to the Union as a free State |
|
31st |
9 Stat. 453 |
Utah Act |
Sep 9, 1850 |
Provide that Utah be admitted to the Union with or without slavery, as determined by its constitution |
|
31st |
9 Stat. 462 |
Fugitive Slave Act |
Sep 18, 1850 |
Remove fugitive slave cases from Federal jurisdiction, provide for the appointment of Federal commissioners to conduct hearings ands issue warrants of arrest and certificates of return, impose a fine and imprisonment on any person aiding or harboring a fugitive slave, and deny fugitive slaves the right of jury trial or the right to testify on their own behalf |
|
31st |
9 Stat. 467 |
District of Columbia Slave-Trade Act |
Sep 20, 1850 |
Abolish the slave trade in D.C. |
32nd Congress (Dec 1, 1851 – Mar 3, 1853): Millard Fillmore
|
Congress |
Citation |
Act Name or Characterization |
Date |
Description |
|
32nd |
10 Stat. 3 |
To Make Military Bounty Land Warrants Assignable |
Mar 22, 1852 |
Provide that land warrants issued to veterans in return for military service may be sold or traded |
33rd Congress (Dec 5, 1853 – Mar 3, 1855): Franklin Pierce
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
33rd
|
10 Stat. 277 |
Kansas-Nebraska Act |
May 30, 1854 |
Repeal the Missouri Compromise to allow citizens in the newly created territories of Kansas and Nebraska determine whether or not slavery would be legal |
|
33rd |
10 Stat. 604 |
Citizenship Act of 1855 |
Feb 10, 1855 |
Grant right of citizenship to children of citizens born outside of the U.S. |
34th Congress (Dec 3, 1855 – Mar 3, 1857): Franklin Pierce
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
34th |
11 Stat. 192 |
Tariff of 1857 |
Mar 3, 1857 |
Reduce the tariffs on many imported goods |
35th Congress (Dec 7, 1857 – Mar 3, 1859): James Buchanan
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
35th |
11 Stat. 269 |
English Bill |
May 4, 1858 |
Offer to admit Kansas into the Union and provide the State with a public lands grant, provided that the State adopt the Lecompton constitution which supported slavery and the rights of slave owners |
36th Congress (Dec 5, 1859 – Mar 3, 1861): James Buchanan
|
Congress |
Statute at Large |
Act Name or Characterization |
Date Approved |
Act Purpose |
|
36th |
12 Stat. 178-198 |
Morrill Tariff Act of 1861 |
Mar 2, 1861 |
Increase duties on certain classes of imports |
37th Congress (Jul 4, 1861 – Mar 3, 1863): Abraham Lincoln
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 292 |
First Federal Income Tax |
Aug 5, 1861 |
Impose duties on certain imports, institute a direct tax on real estate, and establish a tax on income |
|
37th
|
12 Stat. 319 |
First Slave Confiscation Act |
Aug 6, 1861 |
Provide for the emancipation of slaves employed in arms or labor against the U.S. Government |
|
37th
|
12 Stat. 345 |
Legal Tender Act |
Feb 25, 1852 |
Authorize the issuance of $150 million in paper currency |
|
37th
|
12 Stat. 387 |
Department of Agriculture |
May 15, 1862 |
Establish the Department of Agriculture |
|
37th
|
12 Stat. 392 |
Homestead Act |
May 20, 1862 |
Provide up to 160 acres of public lands at $1.25 an acre to any citizen or head of a family who occupied and improved the land for five continuous years |
|
37th
|
12 Stat. 489 |
Pacific Railroad Act |
Jul 1, 1862 |
Provide for the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad to undertake efforts to complete the first U.S. transcontinental railroad |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 501 |
First Antipolygamy Act |
Jul 1, 1862 |
Prohibit the practice of polygamy in the States and Territories, and annul certain acts of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 503 |
Morrill Land-Grant College Act |
Jul 2, 1862 |
Grant to States not in rebellion against the U.S. Government public lands or land scrip to be sold for the purpose of endowing agricultural and mechanical arts colleges |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 543 |
Tariff Act of 1862 |
Jul 14, 1862 |
Raise tariff rates |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 589 |
Second Slave Confiscation Act |
Jul 17, 1862 |
Emancipated slaves of persons engaged in the rebellion against the U.S. Government |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 665 |
National Bank Act |
Feb 25, 1863 |
Establish a national banking system |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 731 |
Conscription Act |
Mar 3, 1863 |
Establish a national system to draft men between the ages of 20-45 for military service |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 755 |
Habeas Corpus Act |
Mar 3, 1863 |
Endorse actions of President Lincoln authorizing the suspension of habeas corpus rights during the war |
|
37th |
12 Stat. 806 |
National Academy of Sciences |
Mar 3, 1863 |
Establish the National Academy of Sciences |
38th Congress (Dec 7, 1863 – Mar 3, 1865): Abraham Lincoln
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
38th |
13 Stat. 202 |
Morrill Tariff Amendments of 1864 |
Jun 30, 1864 |
Increase tariff rates |
|
38th |
13 Stat. 365 |
Northern Pacific Railroad Act |
Jul 2, 1864 |
Authorize the Northern Pacific Railroad to build a railroad and telegraph line from Lake Superior to Portland, Oregon |
|
38th |
13 Stat. 385 |
Immigration Act |
Jul 4, 1864 |
Provide for the appointment of the Commissioner of Immigration and the establishment of a U.S. Emigrant Office in New York |
39th Congress (Dec 4, 1865 – Mar 3, 1867): Andrew Johnson
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
39th |
14 Stat. 27 |
Civil Rights Act |
Apr 9, 1866 |
Grant citizenship to all persons born in the U.S., and provide all citizens, with the exception of Indians, with the same civil rights |
|
39th |
14 Stat. 428 |
First Reconstruction Act |
Mar 2, 1867 |
Divide the States of the former Confederacy, except for Tennessee, into military districts, and establish procedures for their readmittance to the Union |
|
39th |
14 Stat. 430 |
Tenure of Office Act of 1867 |
Mar 2, 1867 |
Prohibit the President from removing civil officials appointed with the advice of the Senate without first obtaining Senatorial approval |
40th Congress (Mar 4, 1867 – Mar 3, 1869): Ulysses Grant
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
40th |
15 Stat. 2 |
Second Reconstruction Act |
Mar 23, 1867 |
Require military commanders in charge of the five military districts in the South to establish procedures for voter registration and elections |
|
40th |
15 Stat. 539 |
Alaska Purchase Treaty |
Apr 9, 1867 |
Provide for the purchase of Alaska from Russia |
|
40th |
15 Stat. 14 |
Third Reconstruction Act |
Jul 19, 1867 |
Provide the commander of the five Southern military districts with authority to suspend or remove from office any civil or military official in the district, and to resolve voter eligibility issues |
|
40th |
15 Stat. 41 |
Fourth Reconstruction Act |
Mar 11, 1868 |
Revise regulations for former Confederate State adoption of new constitutions |
|
40th |
15 Stat. 72 |
Omnibus Act |
Jun 22, 25, 1868 |
Provide for the readmission to the Union of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina |
41st Congress (Mar 4, 1869 – Mar 3, 1871): Ulysses Grant
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
41st |
16 Stat. 1 |
Public Credit Act |
Mar 18, 1969 |
Provide for the payment of Government obligations in gold |
|
41st |
16 Stat. 140 |
First Force Act (First Ku Klux Klan Act) |
May 31, 1870 |
Establish penalties for and Federal jurisdiction over right to vote infringement |
|
41st |
16 Stat. 162 |
Department of Justice |
Jun 22, 1870 |
Establish the Department of Justice |
|
41st |
16 Stat. 256 |
Tariff Act of 1870 |
Jul 14, 1870 |
Eliminate or reduce tariff rates on certain imports, and reduce the internal revenue tax |
|
41st |
16 Stat. 433 |
Second Force Act (Second Ku Klux Klan Act) |
Feb 28, 1871 |
Place control of national elections under Federal control, authorize Federal judges to appoint election supervisors, and authorize U.S. Marshalls to preserve order at polling places |
|
41st |
16 Stat. 514 |
Civil Service Commission |
Mar 3, 1871 |
Authorize the President to prescribe regulations to promote the efficiency of the civil service, and to employ suitable persons to conduct interviews and establish regulations for individuals who receive civil service appointments |
42nd Congress (Mar 4, 1871 – Mar 3, 1873): Ulysses Grant
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
42nd |
17 Stat. 13 |
Third Force Act (Third Ku Klux Klan Act) |
Apr 20, 1871 |
Direct the Federal courts to punish specific acts of terrorism, bar members of Klan-type societies from serving on juries in these cases, and authorize the President to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in areas deemed to be in a condition of anarchy and insurrection |
|
42nd |
17 Stat. 32 |
Yellowstone National Park (First National Park) |
Mar 1, 1872 |
Designate a tract of land near the Yellowstone River as a public park |
|
42nd |
17 Stat. 91 |
General Mining Act of 1872 |
May 10, 1872 |
Provide that mineral deposits on public lands be open to exploration and purchase by U.S. citizens |
|
42nd |
17 Stat. 230 |
Tariff Act of 1872 |
Jun 6, 1872 |
Reduce tariff rates and reduce the duties on salt and coal |
|
42nd |
17 Stat. 424 |
Coinage Act of 1873 |
Feb 12, 1873 |
Discontinue coinage of silver dollars except for international trade, and make gold the sole monetary standard for the U.S. |
|
42nd
|
17 Stat. 485 |
Salary Grab Act |
Mar 3, 1873 |
Double the President’s salary and increase the salaries of the Vice President, Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and members of Congress |
43rd Congress (Dec 1, 1873 – Mar 3, 1875): Ulysses Grant
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
43rd |
18 Stat 4 |
Salary Grab Act Repeal |
Jan 20, 1874 |
Repeal the salary increases in Salary Grab Act, with the exception of the salary of the President and Supreme Court Judges |
|
43rd |
18 Stat. 116 |
Reorganization of D.C. Government |
Jun 20, 1874 |
Replace D.C. home rule with a government of commissioners appointed by the President |
|
43rd |
18 Stat. 296 |
Specie Resumption Act |
Jan 14, 1875 |
Reduce the value of greenbacks in circulation and allow the resumption of specie payment |
|
43rd |
18 Stat. 335 |
Civil Rights Act of 1875 |
Mar 1, 1875 |
Guarantee equal rights to all citizens in public accommodations and conveyances, and prohibit the exclusion of African Americans from jury duty |
|
43rd |
18 Stat. 469 |
Tariff Act of 1875 |
Mar 3, 1875 |
Increase tariff rates and duties |
44th Congress (Dec 6, 1875 – Mar 3, 1877): Ulysses Grant
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
44th |
19 Stat. 227-229 |
Electoral Commission |
Jan 29, 1877 |
Establish a commission to review dispute involving electoral votes in the 1876 Presidential election |
45th Congress (Oct 15, 1877 – Mar 3, 1879): Rutherford B. Hayes
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
45th |
20 Stat. 25-26 |
Bland-Allison Act |
Feb 28, 1878 |
Provide for the Department of Treasury to purchase silver to be coined into silver dollars, make silver legal tender, authorize the issuance of paper money backed by coin deposits, and direct the President to call an international monetary conference to set a ratio between gold and silver |
46th Congress (Mar 18, 1879 – Mar 3, 1881): Rutherford B. Hayes
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
46th |
20 Stat. 152 |
Army Appropriation Bill of 1878 |
Jun 18, 1878 |
Prohibit the use of the U.S. Army as a posse comitatus to execute laws, except in cases expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress |
|
46th |
20 Stat. 394 |
Geological Survey |
Mar 3, 1879 |
Establish the Geological Survey as a bureau within the Department of Interior |
47th Congress (Dec 5, 1881 – Mar 3, 1883): James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
47th |
22 Stat. 30 |
Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act |
Mar 22, 1882 |
Impose penalties on the practice of polygamy and disqualify those who practice it from voting, holding office, or serving on juries in polygamy cases; and place Utah elections under Federal supervision |
|
47th |
22 Stat. 581 |
Chinese Exclusion Act |
May 6, 1882 |
Suspend the immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years and deny citizenship to all foreign-born Chinese |
|
47th
|
22 Stat. 64 |
Tariff Commission |
May 15, 1882 |
Establish a commission to suggest reforms to deal with the accumulating surplus in the Department of Treasury |
|
47th |
22 Stat. 214-215 |
Immigration Act of 1882 |
Aug 3, 1882 |
Prohibit paupers, criminals, convicts, and the insane from entering the U.S., and establish a 50-cent head tax on each immigrant |
|
47th
|
22 Stat. 403 |
Pendleton Act |
Jan 16, 1883 |
Establish a bipartisan Civil Service Commission and provide that no Federal employees is under any obligation to contribute to a political fund |
|
47th |
22 Stat. 488 |
Mongrel Tariff |
Mar 3, 1883 |
Revise tariff rates for certain imports |
48th Congress (Dec 3, 1883 – Mar 3, 1885): Chester A. Arthur
|
Congress |
Citation |
Description |
Date |
Description |
|
48th |
23 Stat. 60-61 |
Bureau of Labor |
Jun 27, 1884 |
Establish a Bureau of Labor within the Department of Interior |
|
48th |
23 Stat. 115-118 |
Second Chinese Exclusion Act |
Jul 5, 1884 |
Impose stringent penalties on the master of any vessel attempting to land Chinese laborers |
|
48th |
23 Stat. 332-333 |
Contract Labor Act |
Feb 26, 1885 |
Prohibit immigration of contract laborers into the U.S. except for use as domestic servants or skilled labor not otherwise obtainable for new industries |
49th Congress (Dec 7, 1885 – Mar 3, 1887): Grover Cleveland
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
49th
|
24 Stat. 1 |
Presidential Succession |
Jan 19, 1886 |
Establish procedures for Presidential succession in case of removal, death, resignation or inability of the both the President and Vice President to serve |
|
49th |
24 Stat. 373 |
Electoral Count Act |
Feb 3, 1887 |
Revise procedures for electoral vote in Presidential elections |
|
49th |
24 Stat. 379 |
Interstate Commerce Act |
Feb 4, 1887 |
Establish a presidentially appointed five-man Interstate Commerce Commission |
|
49th |
24 Stat. 388 |
Dawes Severalty Act |
Feb 8, 1887 |
Provide for the allotment of Indian reservation lands to tribal members |
|
49th |
24 Stat. 440 |
Hatch Act |
Mar 2, 1887 |
Provide subsidies to States for establishment and support of agricultural experiment stations administered by State agricultural colleges |
|
49th |
24 Stat. 500 |
Tenure of Office Act Repeal |
Mar 3, 1887 |
Repeal the Tenure of Office Act of 1887 |
50th Congress (Dec 5, 1887 – Mar 3, 1889): Grover Cleveland
|
Congress |
Citation |
Name |
Date |
Description |
|
50th |
25 Stat. 182 |
Department of Labor Act |
Jun 13, 1888 |
Re-designate the National Bureau of Labor as an independent agency without Cabinet rank |
|
50th |
25 Stat. 501 |
Railroad Arbitration Act |
Oct 1, 1888 |
Establish procedures for voluntary arbitration in railroad-labor conflicts |
|
50th |
25 Stat. 659 |
Department of Agriculture Act |
Feb 9, 1889 |
Re-designate the Commission on Agriculture as an independent department with Cabinet level status |