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 ascending Interesting Part Statutized? Leads to other named Legislation Link/Source Notes
Hastings Amendment Sponsor Hastings Amendment NO short title Rep. William Wirt Hastings, (D-OK) ch. 4, 41 Stat 4 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000333

 nothing in statute, but this is one section of a larger statute -- Hastings maybe was sponsor of amendment that became that section?
Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Victim Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act "Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" Matthew Shepard was the victim of a hate crime, beaten to death in Laramie, WY in 1998 by two men because he was gay. Jame Byrd, an African-American man from Texas, was killed in 1998 by two white supremacists who chained him to a pickup truck and dragged him to death. 18 USC 1 (note) 111-84, div E 123 Stat 2835 Y

"Obama signs hate-crimes law rooted in crimes of 1998," USA Today, Oct. 28, 2009. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/10/620000629/1

 short title and division title; check original bills -- think the full title changed through the legislative history
Taylor T.V.A. Act Sponsor Taylor T.V.A. Act NO short title Rep. Edward Taylor (D-CO) ch 303, 55 Stat 597 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000072

 nothing in statute; TVA = Tenn Valley Authority
Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Tribes Water Rights Settlement Act of 1990 Tribe Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Tribes Water Rights Settlement Act of 1990 "Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Tribes Water Rights Settlement Act of 1990" Fallon Paiute Shoshone is the name of a Tribe. 101-618 104 Stat 3289 Y

http://www.fpst.org/

 title of bill and short title;
CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 Acrostic CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 "Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 or CAN-SPAM Act of 2003" 15 USC 7701 108-187 117 Stat 2699 N both in short title at the beginning of statute
Nelson Act (Criminal Appeals) (see Criminal Appeals Act) Sponsor Nelson Act (Criminal Appeals) (see Criminal Appeals Act) NO short title Sen. Knute Nelson (R-MN) ch 2564, 34 Stat 1246 X

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000040

 nothing in statute; see U.S. v. Mersky, 361 U.S. 431 (1960) at n. 5.
Wright Amendment Reform Act of 2006 Sponsor Wright Amendment Reform Act of 2006 "Wright Amendment Reform Act of 2006" Amendment to the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 offered by Rep. Jim Wright (TX). 109-352 120 Stat 2011 Y

S.Rpt.109-317; Wright - http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000763

 short title
Filled Cheese Act Description Filled Cheese Act NO short title ch 337, 29 Stat 253 X
Wagner-Steagall Housing Act Sponsor Wagner-Steagall Housing Act "United States Housing Act Amendments of 1938" Sen. Robert Ferdinand Wagner, (D-N.Y.); Rep. Henry Bascom Steagall, (D-AL) ch 554, title VI, 52 Stat 820 N

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000021; http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000820

 short title at end of Title VI (only applies to title VI)
Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act Honor Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act "Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act" President Dwight D. Eisenhower 20 USC 2981 89-10, title II, part A; 100-297, title I, Section 1001 102 Stat 219 Y short title of Part A of PL 100-297 enacted Apr 28, 1988

Pages