Database of Federal Statute Names

A political cartoon lampooning the Embargo Act of 1807

The collection can be sorted by the popular name of the law, by the date of its enactment, or by descriptive category of naming convention. The categories are our attempt to bring some degree of order to the chaos.

Database of Federal Statute Popular Names

Title Type Popular Name Short Title Named For? Classification PL Statute At Large Date(s) Enactedsort descending Interesting Part Statutized? Leads to other named Legislation Link/Source Notes
Burke-Wadsworth Act (see Selective Training and Service Act of 1940) Sponsor Burke-Wadsworth Act (see Selective Training and Service Act of 1940) "Selective Training and Service Act of 1940" Sen. Edward Raymond Burke (D-S.D.); Rep. James Wolcott Wadsworth, Jr., (R-N.Y.) 50 USC App 301 et seq ch 720, 54 Stat 885 N

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B001089; http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000012

 short title is "Selective Training and Service Act of 1940"; "Burke-Wadsworth" not statutized
Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988 Honor/Sponsor Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988 "Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988" Rep. Augustus F. Hawkins (CA) was chairman of the Education and Labor Committee at the time the bill passed. Sen. Robert T. Stafford (VT) retired in 1988. Hawkins sponsored the House legislation but Stafford was not the sponsor of the Senate vehicle. 20 USC 6301 100-297 102 Stat 130 Y

Hawkins - http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000367; Stafford - http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000776

 short title; Gus Hawkins was chair of the Ed and Labor Comm at the time; Stafford was Sen from VT (Stafford loans are named for him) but was not Ed Comm chair
Liquor Taxing Act of 1934 Description Liquor Taxing Act of 1934 "Liquor Taxing Act of 1934" Ch. 1, 48 Stat 313
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act Honor Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Act "Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental and Native American Public Policy Act of 1992" Rep. Morris K. Udall (AZ) and his brother Rep. Stewart L. Udall (AZ) 20 USC 5601 (note) 102-259 106 Stat 78 Y

http://www.udall.gov/AboutUs/AboutUs.aspx

 Establishing scholarship foundation honoring Morris Udall; Stewart Udall added in 2009.
ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 Acrostic ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 "Ensuring Needed Help Arrives Near Callers Employing 911 Act of 2004" or "ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004" 47 USC 901 108-494, title I 118 Stat 3986 Y short title at beginning of statute
Food and Forage Act Description Food and Forage Act NO short title ch 84, S 10, 12 Stat 220 X R.S. 3732; nothing in statute
Hall-Mark Act Description Hall-Mark Act NO short title Hallmark is what is stamped on Gold and Silver to certify purity 15 USC 291 ch. 720, 33 Stat 732 N

(Dictionary)

 Hallmark not statutized - statute prohibits stamping of gold and silver with "U.S. assay" (still on books, never amended); No one in Congress named Hall at the time and no one ever named Mark; Seems to be "Hallmark"
No entry Description No entry "Second Deficiency Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1937" Ch 277, 50 Stat 213
Hump Law Description Hump Law NO short title The "hump" was the colloquial term used for the large group of officers commissioned during WWII. The law provides for a path to promotion by expanding the ranks of higher officers. 86-155 73 Stat 333 N

105 Cong. Rec. 3227 (Mar. 4, 1959), Statement of Rep. Thornburry (PA).

 don't see anything helplful in statute, but law deals with Navy so maybe "Hump" is a naval term?
Welch Act Sponsor Welch Act NO short title Rep. Richard Welch (R-CA) ch 814, 45 Stat 776 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch1.asp

 nothing in statute; DC civil service

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