Democratic-Reform

DISCLOSE Act Passes House But GOP Blocks Senate Vote on Citizens United Response

2010-06-24 00:00:00 +0000 UTC | Importance: 7/10

House passes Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act requiring disclosure of corporate political spending, but Republican leadership blocks Senate consideration to protect dark money donors

Chuck Schumer Chris Van Hollen Mitch McConnell Barack Obama House of Representatives +1 more legislative-response campaign-finance-reform corporate-disclosure political-obstruction transparency +2 more

Social Security Act Creates Federal Retirement and Unemployment Insurance System Over Business Opposition

1935-08-14 00:00:00 +0000 UTC | Importance: 10/10

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935, establishing the first comprehensive federal system for old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and aid to dependent children and the disabled, creating the foundation of the American social safety net. Labor …

Franklin D. Roosevelt Frances Perkins U.S. Congress American Liberty League National Association of Manufacturers +1 more labor-rights new-deal social-insurance corporate-resistance democratic-reform

17th Amendment Ratified: Direct Election of Senators Ends State Legislature Appointments and Deadlock Corruption

1913-04-08 00:00:00 +0000 UTC | Importance: 8/10

Connecticut became the 36th state to ratify the 17th Amendment, meeting the three-fourths requirement to establish direct election of United States senators by popular vote. The amendment modified Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, which had required state legislatures to appoint senators. …

Connecticut State Legislature U.S. Congress Progressive Movement progressive-era electoral-reform constitutional-amendment democratic-reform