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Structural Statutes

The acts of Congress that built the machinery: the Judiciary Act, the APA, the Budget Act, the National Security Act, and their successors.

Administrative Procedure Act
The 1946 law that governs how every federal agency makes rules, decides cases, and is reviewed by courts
Antideficiency Act
The law barring federal officials from spending or obligating money beyond what Congress has appropriated, the legal reason government shuts down when funding lapses
Budget and Accounting Act of 1921
The law that created the modern federal budget, requiring an annual presidential budget and establishing the Bureau of the Budget and the General Accounting Office
Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990
The law that created chief financial officers in major federal agencies and required audited financial statements, the basis of modern federal financial management
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
The law that replaced the Civil Service Commission with OPM, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the FLRA, created the Senior Executive Service, and set federal labor rules
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
The law that gave Congress its own budget process and limited a President's power to refuse to spend appropriated money
Electoral Count Act and the 2022 Reform
The 1887 law governing how states certify and Congress counts presidential electoral votes, and its 2022 overhaul after the disputes of 2020 and January 6, 2021
Ethics in Government Act of 1978
The post-Watergate law that requires financial disclosure by senior officials, created the Office of Government Ethics, tightened post-employment rules, and established the independent counsel
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The 1972 law requiring federal advisory committees to be chartered, balanced, and open to the public, so outside advice to government is transparent
Federal Reserve Act
The 1913 law creating the Federal Reserve System of regional reserve banks and a central board, the foundation of U.S. monetary policy and banking supervision
Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998
The law setting who may temporarily perform the duties of a Senate-confirmed executive office when it is vacant, and for how long
Hatch Act
The 1939 law limiting partisan political activity by federal employees, and some state and local workers, to keep government work separate from campaigns
Homeland Security Act of 2002
The law that created the Department of Homeland Security by merging 22 agencies, the largest reorganization of the federal government since 1947
Inspector General Act of 1978
The law that created independent inspectors general inside federal agencies to audit and investigate waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct, reporting to both agency heads and Congress
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
The law that followed the 9/11 Commission's recommendations by creating the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center
Judiciary Act of 1789
The law that built the federal court system the Constitution only sketched
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946
The law that modernized Congress after World War II by consolidating its committees, creating professional committee staffs, and requiring lobbyists to register
National Security Act of 1947
The Cold War law that created the CIA, the National Security Council, an independent Air Force, and the Secretary of Defense
Paperwork Reduction Act
The 1980 law that created the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and requires OMB approval before agencies collect information from the public
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
The 1883 law that founded the federal merit system, requiring competitive examinations for covered jobs and barring political firings and forced contributions
Presidential Records Act
The 1978 law making the official records of Presidents and Vice Presidents public property, transferred to the National Archives when they leave office
Presidential Succession Act
The law, last rewritten in 1947, that sets the order of officials who would act as President if both the presidency and vice presidency were vacant
The Reorganization Acts Dissolved
The series of laws from 1932 to 1984 that let Presidents restructure the executive branch through plans that took effect unless Congress objected
War Powers Resolution
The 1973 law, passed over Nixon's veto, meant to restore Congress's role in deciding when the country fights