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
Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge Authority Act of 1995 Location Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge Authority Act of 1995 "Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge Authority Act of 1995" President Woodrow Wilson 104-59, title IV 109 Stat 627 N name of title and short title; bridge had previously been named for Wilson
Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006 Honor Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006 "Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006" Esther Martinez was a storyteller, linguist, and teacher who worked to preserve the Tewa language. 42 USC 2991 (note) 109-394 120 Stat 2705 Y

"Esther Martinez, 94; Preserved Language," Washington Post, Sept. 19, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR200609...

 short title
Nelson Act (Bankruptcy Act of 1898) (see Bankruptcy Act) Sponsor Nelson Act (Bankruptcy Act of 1898) (see Bankruptcy Act) NO short title Rep. Knute Nelson (R-MN) ch 541, 30 Stat 544 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000040; see also http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00578.xml

 nothing in statute
White Charger Act Political Description White Charger Act NO short title Name derived from an observation that the legislation went through Congress "like a White Charger," or cavalry horse. 86-616, section 10 74 Stat 395 N

Norman v. U. S., 392 F.2d 255, 256 (Ct. Cl. Mar. 15, 1968) disapproved of by Colm v. Kissinger, 406 F. Supp. 1250 (D.D.C. 1975)

 nothing in statute; about Army and Air Force officers, not sure what/who "White Charger" is
Mead Air Mail Extension Act Sponsor Mead Air Mail Extension Act NO short title Rep. James Mead (D-NY) ch 9, 52 Stat 6 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000615

 nothing in statute
Frazier-Lemke Farm-Mortgage Act Sponsor Frazier-Lemke Farm-Mortgage Act NO short title Sen. Lynn Frazier (R-ND); Rep. William Lemke (Non-Partisan/R-ND) ch. 869, 48 Stat 1289 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000354; http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000238

 nothing in statute
Sheppard Bone-Dry Law in District of Columbia Sponsor Sheppard Bone-Dry Law in District of Columbia NO short title Sen. Morris Sheppard, (D-TX) ch 165, 39 Stat 1123 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000337

 nothing in statute
McDuffie-Tydings Act of 1934 (see Philippine Independence Act) Sponsor McDuffie-Tydings Act of 1934 (see Philippine Independence Act) NO short title Rep. John McDuffie (D-AL); Sen. Millard E. Tydings (D-MD) ch 84, 48 Stat 456 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000427; http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000446

 nothing in statute
Platt Amendment (Cuba) Sponsor Platt Amendment (Cuba) NO short title Sen. Orville Platt (R-CT) ch 803, 31 Stat 897 X

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platt_Amendment; http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000382

 Senate rider on Army approps bill presented by CT Republican Sen. Orville Platt; stipulated conditions for withdrawal from Cuba; WP notes it replaced earlier "Teller Amendment" but no mention in Popular Name Table (b/c it's no longer law);
Reed-Jenkins Act Sponsor Reed-Jenkins Act NO short title Sen. David Aiken Reed (R-PA) (1921-1934); Rep. Thomas A. Jenkins (R-OH) (1925-1958) ch 864, 45 Stat 954 X nothing in statute; immigration

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