The legislative recommendations of the presidents commission on the united states postal service. The resulting legislation, the postal reorganization act of 1970. A resolution to waive the provisions of the legislative. Implementation of sections 201 to 205, 231 to 235, and 451 of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 bl 15398 bythecomptrollergeneral ofthe united states. The legislative reorganization act of 1970 was designed to make the committee system what. While the final act did not tamper with the seniority system it did require committees to adopt. Proposed by the joint committee on the organization of congress, the legislation overhauled congressional internal procedures and administration for the first time in a generation. Socalled short title links, and links to particular sections of the code, will lead you to a textual roadmap the section notes describing. Sometimes these names say something about the substance of the law as with the 2002 winter olympic commemorative coin act. Overview prior to enactment of the postal reorganization act of 1970 pra,1 mail delivery in the united states was the responsibility of the u. The government performance and results act of 1993 and the government performance and results modernization act of 2010 provide important alternatives.
Nixon signed the legislative reorganization act of 1970 into law. A few tried to remedy some of its defects and failures. To streamline and simplify congressional committee structure. At the heart of these was the socalled committee bill of rights. Legislative reorganization act of 1970 by united states.
In many of its provisions, the legislative reorganization act of 1970 elaborated or expanded upon themes in the 1946 act. Under the legislative reorganization act of 1970, committees of the u. Answers will vary but should address the idea that the committee system is now more democratic after the legislative reorganization act limited the power of committee chairpersons and gave other committee members more authority. Thus many of the reforms eventually adopted as part of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 were aimed at opening up the committee system to greater transparency and inclusion. For the most part, however, the 1970 statute addressed problems that had emerged or become more critical since 1946. History of postal reform legislation background following the postal office department strike of 1970, the nixon administration, working with the postal unions and congress, sought to reorganize the taxpayersupported post office into a selfsustaining enterprise. The resulting legislation, the postal reorganization act of 1970 pra, established the united states postal service. It did allow for electronic voting in the house but this was a fairly minor part of the bill. Special subcommittee on legislative reorganization. The minority witness rule was contained in section 114b of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 3 and was first made a part of house rules at the beginning of the 92 nd congress 1971 1972.
Legislative reorganization act of 1970 traditionally, congressional committees had permitted their dissenting members to file minority views to committee reports and permitted the minority party to call up witnesses of its choosing at hear ings. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. A policy history, 17901970 this report provides a historically deep and contextually rich legislative history of the postal reorganization acts universal service provisions. Historical highlights search reset filters all text subject categories legislation events people committees places.
Gao implementation of sections 201, 202, and 203 of. Abuse preve ntion and control act of 1970, which r epea led virtually all of the mandator y sentenc ing provisions. How did the legislative reorganization act of 1970 improve committee work in the house and senate. Legislative reorganization act and later incorporated into the 1978 ig act might be useful in attending to administrative productivity. Legislative reorganization act of 1970 is passed o while the legislative reorganization act of 1946 focused on reasserting congressional authority in relation to the executive branch, the 1970 act represented an effort by more junior members in the house and senate to reduce the authority of senior members, especially committee chairs. Legislative reorgani zation act of 1946, 79 th congress 1945 1946 creation, membership, and funding. Executive summary united states house of representatives. The act focused mainly on the rules that governed congressional committee procedures. B115398 implementation of sections 201 to 205, 231 to 235.
Legislative reorganization act of 1970 infogalactic. The act transformed the post office department into a governmentowned corporation, called the united states postal service. But beginning again in 1984, with expansions in 1986 and 1988, congress enacted a series of mandatory penalties targeted at firearm, drug, and sex offenses, and at repeat offenders. Government printing office gpo this government office is. Similar to the previous one, changes resulting from the 1970 lra were wideranging. The legislative reorganization act of 1970 was an act of the united states congress to improve the operation of the legislative branch of the federal government, and for other purposes. Congress approved the postal reorganization act of 1970, signed into law august 12, 1970. To eliminate the use of special or select committees. Forwards summary of actions taken by nrc in response to. Many aimed to curtail the power of southern democratic committee chairmen. Indeed, as recently as the early 1970s, the joint atomic energy committee did report out legislation and oversaw the nations atomic energy program. The act focused mainly on the rules that governed congressional committee procedures, decreasing the power of the chair and empowering minority members, and on making house and senate. Congress no longer retains power to fix postal tariffs although changes may be vetoed or. Historical highlights search us house of representatives.
Indeed, as recently as the early 1970 s, the joint atomic energy committee did report out legislation and oversaw the nations atomic energy program. On october 26, president richard nixon signed the legislative reorganization act of 1970 into law. The legislative reorganization act of 1946 reorganized the house and senate committee system, including the number and jurisdiction of congressional committees and. Navcly, a more precise definition of congressional information requirements to be met by the standard system required by the act. Implementation of sections 201, 202, and 203 of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 b115398. Joint resolution ckrrecting certain printing and clerical. Supplemental appropriations and rescissions act of 1980 p. Legislative reorganization act of 1970, 91st congress 196919703 despite the extensive changes that took place in congress because of the 1946 legislative reorganization act, by the mid1960s, many members began to feel that the law had not gone far enough, and that additional procedural reform was desirable.
The legislative reform act of 1970 was one of the most important congressional reform bills ever passed. A resolution to waive the provisions of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 which require the adjournment of the house and senate by july 31st. Other articles where postal reorganization act is discussed. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics.
The senate amended the bill, and the house concurred to the changes on october 8, 1970. Congress were instructed to take a much more intensive inter est than formerly in what was once called legislative oversight, and. In accordance with section 236 of the legislative reorganization act of 1970, when a gao report contains recommendations to the head of an agency, the agency shall. Xi of the legislative reorganization act of 1970 brought sharply into focus a basic problem in achieving the objectives of the act. Laws acquire popular names as they make their way through congress. It sketches the concepts, policies, practices, and controversies associated with universal postal service from 1790 to 1970. The operation of the legislative reorganization act of. The legislative reorganization act of 1970 us house of. The act focused mainly on the rules that governed congressional committee procedures, decreasing the power of the chair and empowering minority members, and on making house and senate processes more transparent. Section 236 of the legislative reorganization act of 1970. Would a repeal of the legislative reorganization act of. The house passed the final version of the bill on october 8, 1970.
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