List of United States federal legislation, 1789–1901

This is a chronological, but incomplete, list of United States federal legislation passed by the 1st through 56th United States Congresses, between 1789 and 1901. For the main article on this subject, see List of United States federal legislation. Additional lists can be found at List of United States federal legislation: Congress of the Confederation, List of United States federal legislation, 1901–2001 and List of United States federal legislation, 2001–present.

1st United States Congress

• June 1, 1789: An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths, Sess. 1, ch. 1, 1 Stat. 23
• July 4, 1789: Hamilton Tariff, Sess. 1, ch. 2, 1 Stat. 24^[1]
• August 7, 1789: An Act for the establishment and support of Lighthouses, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers, Sess. 1, ch. 9, 1 Stat. 53
• September 2, 1789: Treasury Act Sess. 1, ch. 12, 1 Stat. 65.^[2]
• September 24, 1789: Judiciary Act of 1789, Sess. 1, ch. 20, 1 Stat. 73
• March 1, 1790: Census of 1790, Sess. 2, ch. 2, 1 Stat. 101
• March 26, 1790: Naturalization Act of 1790, Sess. 2, ch. 3, 1 Stat. 103
• April 10, 1790: Patent Act, Sess. 2, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 109^[3]
• May 26, 1790: Southwest Ordinance, Sess. 2, ch. 14, 1 Stat. 123
• May 31, 1790: Copyright Act of 1790, Sess. 2, ch. 15, 1 Stat. 124
• July 6, 1790: Residence Act, Sess. 2, ch. 28, 1 Stat. 130
• July 22, 1790: Indian Intercourse Act of 1790, Sess. 2, ch. 33, 1 Stat. 137
• August 4, 1790: Funding Act of 1790, Sess. 2, ch. 34, 1 Stat. 138^[4]
• February 25, 1791: First Bank of the United States, Sess. 3, ch. 10, 1 Stat. 191^[5]
• March 3, 1791: Whiskey Act, Sess. 3, ch. 15, 1 Stat. 199

2nd United States Congress

• February 20, 1792: Postal Service Act, Sess. 1, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 232
• April 2, 1792: Coinage Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 16, 1 Stat. 246
• April 14, 1792: Apportionment Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 23 1 Stat. 253 to
• May 2, 1792: First Militia Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 28, 1 Stat. 264
• May 8, 1792: Second Militia Act of 1792, Sess. 1, ch. 33, 1 Stat. 271
• February 12, 1793: Fugitive Slave Law of 1793, Sess. 2, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 302
• February 18, 1793: An Act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same, Sess. 2, ch. 8, 1 Stat. 305
• March 2, 1793: Judiciary Act of 1793, Sess. 2, ch. 22, 1 Stat. 333 (including Anti-Injunction Act)

3rd United States Congress

• March 27, 1794: Naval Act of 1794, Sess. 1, ch. 12, 1 Stat. 350
• January 29, 1795: Naturalization Act of 1795, Sess. 2, ch. 20, 1 Stat. 414

4th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

5th United States Congress

• April 30, 1798: The U.S. Department of the Navy was established, Sess. 2, ch. 35, 1 Stat. 553
• June 18, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization (Naturalization Act of 1798), Sess. 2, ch. 54, 1 Stat. 566
• June 25, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act concerning Aliens, Sess. 2, ch. 58, 1 Stat. 570
• July 6, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act respecting Alien Enemies, Sess. 2, ch. 66, 1 Stat. 577
• July 9, 1798: Act Further to Protect the Commerce of the United States, Sess. 2, ch. 68, 1 Stat. 578
• July 11, 1798: The Marine Corps was established, Sess. 2, ch. 72, 1 Stat. 594
• July 14, 1798: Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States (Sedition Act), Sess. 2, ch. 74, 1 Stat. 596
• July 16, 1798: An Act for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, Sess. 2, ch. 77, 1 Stat. 605

6th United States Congress

• February 13, 1801: Judiciary Act of 1801, Sess. 2, ch. 4, 2 Stat. 89
• February 27, 1801: District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Sess.2, ch. 15, 2 Stat. 103

7th United States Congress

• April 29, 1802: Judiciary Act of 1802, Sess. 1, ch. 31, 2 Stat. 156
• April 30, 1802: Enabling Act of 1802, Sess. 1, ch. 40, 2 Stat. 173

8th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

9th United States Congress

• March 29, 1806: Cumberland Road, Sess. 1, ch. 19, 2 Stat. 357
• February 24, 1807: Seventh Circuit Act, 2 Stat. 420
• March 2, 1807: Slave Trade Prohibition Act, Sess. 2, ch. 22, 2 Stat. 426

10th United States Congress

• December 22, 1807: Embargo Act of 1807, Sess. 1, ch. 5, 2 Stat. 451
• March 1, 1809: Non-Intercourse Act (1809), Sess. 2, ch. 24, 2 Stat. 528

11th United States Congress

• May 1, 1810: Macon's Bill Number 2, Sess. 2, ch. 39, 2 Stat. 605

12th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

13th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

14th United States Congress

• April 10, 1816: Second Bank of the United States, Sess. 1, ch. 94, 3 Stat. 266
• April 27, 1816: Dallas tariff, Sess. 1, ch. 107, 3 Stat. 310

15th United States Congress

• April 4, 1818: Flag Act of 1818, Sess. 1, ch. 34, 3 Stat. 415
• April 18, 1818: Navigation Act of 1818, Sess. 1, ch. 70, 3 Stat. 432

16th United States Congress

• March 6, 1820: Missouri Compromise, Sess. 1, ch. 22, 3 Stat. 545
• April 24, 1820: Land Act of 1820, Sess. 1, ch. 51, 3 Stat. 566

17th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

18th United States Congress

• January 7, 1824: Tariff of 1824, Sess. 1, ch.4, 4 Stat. 2

19th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

20th United States Congress

• May 24, 1828: Tariff of Abominations, Sess. 1, ch. 111, 4 Stat. 308

21st United States Congress

• May 28, 1830: Indian Removal Act, Sess. 1, ch. 148, 4 Stat. 411

22nd United States Congress

• July 14, 1832: Tariff of 1832, Sess. 1, ch. 227, 4 Stat. 583
• March 2, 1833: Compromise Tariff (Tariff of 1833), Sess. 2, ch. 55, 4 Stat. 629
• March 2, 1833: Force Bill, Sess. 2, ch. 57, 4 Stat. 632

23rd United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

24th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

25th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

26th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

27th United States Congress

• April 19, 1841: Bankruptcy Act of 1841, ch. 9, 5 Stat. 440
• September 4, 1841: Preemption Act of 1841, ch. 16, 5 Stat. 453
• August 4, 1842: Armed Occupation Act, 5 Stat. 502
• August 30, 1842: Tariff of 1842 ("Black Tariff"), ch. 270, 5 Stat. 548

28th United States Congress

• January 23, 1845: Presidential Election Day Act, ch. 1, 5 Stat. 721
• March 3, 1845: An act relating to revenue cutters and steamers, ch. 78, 5 Stat. 795 (the first time Congress overrode a Presidential veto)

29th United States Congress

• July 9, 1846: District of Columbia retrocession, ch. 35, 9 Stat. 35
• July 30, 1846: Walker tariff, Sess. 1, ch. 74, 9 Stat. 42

30th United States Congress

• March 3, 1849: Coinage Act of 1849, ch. 109, 9 Stat. 397

31st United States Congress

• September 9, 1850: Compromise of 1850, ch. 49, 9 Stat. 446
• September 18, 1850: Fugitive Slave Act, ch. 60, 9 Stat. 462
• September 29, 1850: Donation Land Claim Act, ch. 76, 9 Stat. 496

• California Land Act of 1851, An Act to Ascertain and Settle Private Land Claims in the State of California, ch 141, 9 Stat. 631

32nd United States Congress

• March 2, 1853: An act providing for administering the oath of office to William R. King, Vice President elect of the United States of America. Sess. 2, Ch. 93, 10 Stat. 180

33rd United States Congress

• May 30, 1854: Kansas–Nebraska Act, ch. 59, 10 Stat. 277

34th United States Congress

• August 18, 1856: Guano Islands Act, ch. 164, 11 Stat. 119

35th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

• April 30, 1858: English Bill

36th United States Congress

• June 16, 1860: Pacific Telegraph Act of 1860, ch. 147, 12 Stat. 41
• March 2, 1861: Morrill Tariff, ch. 68, 12 Stat. 178

37th United States Congress

• August 5, 1861: Revenue Act of 1861, Sess. 1, ch. 45, 12 Stat. 292
• August 6, 1861: Confiscation Act of 1861, Sess. 1, ch. 60, 12 Stat. 319
• February 25, 1862: Legal Tender Act of 1862, Sess. 2, ch. 33, 12 Stat. 345
• April 16, 1862: An Act for the Release of certain Persons held to Service or Labor within the District of Columbia, Sess. 2, ch. 54, 12 Stat. 376
• May 15, 1862: An Act to Establish a Department of Agriculture, Sess. 2, ch. 72, 12 Stat. 387
• May 20, 1862: Homestead Act, Sess. 2, ch. 75, 12 Stat. 392
• June 19, 1862: An Act to secure Freedom to all persons within the Territories of the United States, Sess. 2, ch 111, 12 Stat. 432
• July 1, 1862: Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, Sess. 2, ch. 126, 12 Stat. 501
• July 1, 1862: Revenue Act of 1862, Sess. 2, ch. 119, 12 Stat. 432
• July 1, 1862: Pacific Railway Act, Sess. 2, ch. 120, 12 Stat. 489
• July 2, 1862: Morrill Land Grant Colleges Act, Sess. 2, ch. 130, 12 Stat. 503
• July 17, 1862: Militia Act of 1862, Sess. 2, ch. 201, 12 Stat. 597
• February 25, 1863: National Banking Act, Sess. 3, ch 58, 12 Stat. 665
• March 2, 1863: False Claims Act, Sess. 3, ch. 67, 12 Stat. 696
• March 3, 1863: Enrollment Act, Sess. 3, ch. 75, 12 Stat. 731
• March 3, 1863: Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, Sess. 3, ch. 81, 12 Stat. 755
• March 3, 1863: Tenth Circuit Act, 12 Stat. 794

38th United States Congress

• April 22, 1864: Coinage Act of 1864, Sess. 1, ch. 66, 13 Stat. 54
• March 3, 1865: Freedmen's Bureau, Sess. 2, ch. 90, 13 Stat. 507

39th United States Congress

• April 9, 1866: Civil Rights Act of 1866, ch. 31, 14 Stat. 27
• July 23, 1866: Judicial Circuits Act, ch. 210, 14 Stat. 209
• March 2, 1867: Reconstruction Act, ch. 153, 14 Stat. 428
• March 2, 1867: Tenure of Office Act, ch. 154, 14 Stat. 430

40th United States Congress

• Reconstruction Acts, continued:
  • March 23, 1867, ch. 6, 15 Stat. 2
  • July 19, 1867, ch. 30, 15 Stat. 14
  • March 11, 1868, ch. 25, 15 Stat. 25
• July 27, 1868: Expatriation Act of 1868, ch. 249, 15 Stat. 223

41st United States Congress

• April 10, 1869: Judiciary Act of 1869 (Circuit Judges Act of 1869), ch. 22, 16 Stat. 44
• May 31, 1870: Enforcement Act of 1870, ch. 114, 16 Stat. 140
• July 14, 1870: Naturalization Act of 1870, ch. 254, 16 Stat. 254
• February 21, 1871: District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871, ch. 62, 16 Stat. 419

42nd United States Congress

• April 20, 1871: Ku Klux Act (Civil Rights Act of 1871, Ku Klux Klan Act), ch. 22, 17 Stat. 13
• March 1, 1872: Yellowstone Act, ch. 24, 17 Stat. 32
• May 10, 1872: General Mining Act of 1872, ch. 152, 17 Stat. 91, R.S. §§2319–2328, 2331, 2333–2338, 2344
• May 22, 1872: Amnesty Act, ch. 193, 17 Stat. 142
• June 1, 1872: Practice Conformity Act (precursor to the Rules Enabling Act), ch. 255, 17 Stat. 196
• February 12, 1873: Coinage Act of 1873, ch. 131, 17 Stat. 424
• March 3, 1873: Comstock Act, ch. 258, 17 Stat. 598
• March 3, 1873: Timber Culture Act, ch. 277, 17 Stat. 205

43rd United States Congress

• June 23, 1874: Poland Act, ch. 469, 18 Stat. 253
• January 14, 1875: Specie Payment Resumption Act, ch. 15, 18 Stat. 296
• March 1, 1875: Civil Rights Act of 1875, 18 Stat. 335
• March 3, 1875: Page Act of 1875, ch. 141, 18 Stat. 477

44th United States Congress

• March 3, 1877: Desert Land Act

45th United States Congress

• February 28, 1878: Bland-Allison Act (Coinage Act (Silver Dollar)), Sess. 2, ch. 20, 20 Stat. 25
• April 29, 1878: National Quarantine Act, Sess. 2, ch. 66, 20 Stat. 37
• June 3, 1878: Timber and Stone Act, Sess. 2, ch. 151, 20 Stat. 89
• June 18, 1878: Posse Comitatus Act, Sess. 2, ch. 263, §15, 20 Stat. 152

46th United States Congress

• February 26, 1879: To Promote a Knowledge of Steam Engineering and Iron Shipbuilding Act, Sess. 3, ch. 105, 20 Stat. 322

47th United States Congress

• February 25, 1882: Apportionment of the Tenth Census, ch. 20, 22 Stat. 5
• May 6, 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act, 22 Stat. 58
• August 2, 1882: River and Harbors Act of 1882
• January 16, 1883: Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, ch. 27, 22 Stat. 403
• March 3, 1883: Tariff of 1883 (Mongrel Tariff)

48th United States Congress

[Data unknown/missing.]

49th United States Congress

• January 19, 1886: Presidential Succession Act of 1886, ch. 4, 24 Stat. 1
• February 3, 1887: Electoral Count Act, ch. 90, 24 Stat. 373
• February 4, 1887: Interstate Commerce Act, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379
• February 8, 1887: Indian General Allotment Act ("Dawes Act"), ch. 119, 24 Stat. 388
• March 2, 1887: Agricultural Experiment Stations Act of 1887
• March 2, 1887: Hatch Act of 1887, ch. 314, 24 Stat. 440
• March 3, 1887: Tucker Act, ch. 359, 24 Stat. 505
• March 3, 1887: Edmunds–Tucker Act, ch. 397 24 Stat. 635

50th United States Congress

• February 22, 1889: Enabling Act of 1889, Sess. 2, ch. 180, 25 Stat. 676

51st United States Congress

• June 27, 1890: Dependent Pension Act
• July 2, 1890: Sherman Antitrust Act, ch. 647, 26 Stat. 209
• July 14, 1890: Sherman Silver Purchase Act, ch. 708, 26 Stat. 289
• August 30, 1890: Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act
• October 1, 1890: McKinley Tariff, ch. 1244, 26 Stat. 567
• March 3, 1891: Forest Reserve Act of 1891
• March 3, 1891: Land Revision Act of 1891
• March 3, 1891: Immigration Act of 1891
• March 3, 1891: Merchant Marine Act of 1891
• March 3, 1891: Judiciary Act of 1891 (Evarts Act)

52nd United States Congress

• May 5, 1892: Geary Act, ch. 60, 27 Stat. 25 (amended the Chinese Exclusion Act)
• February 13, 1893: Harter Act (Carriage of Goods by Sea), ch. 105, 27 Stat. 445

53rd United States Congress

• August 27, 1894: Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act, ch. 349, §73, 28 Stat. 570
• January 12, 1895: Printing Act of 1895 (An Act Providing for the Public Printing and Binding and the Distribution of Public Documents), ch. 23, 28 Stat. 601
• February 18, 1895: Maguire Act of 1895, 28 Stat. 667

54th United States Congress

• May 21, 1896: Oil Pipe Line Act, 29 Stat. 127 (43 U.S.C. § 962 et seq.)
• May 22, 1896: Condemned Cannon Act, 29 Stat. 133
• May 28, 1896: United States Commissioners Act, 29 Stat. 184
• June 1, 1896: Married Women's Rights Act (District of Columbia), 29 Stat. 193
• June 6, 1896: Filled Cheese Act, 29 Stat. 253
• January 13, 1897: Stock Reservoir Act, 29 Stat. 484, (43 U.S.C. § 952 et seq.)
• March 2, 1897: Tea Importation Act, 29 Stat. 604, (21 U.S.C. § 41 et seq.)

55th United States Congress

• June 10: War Revenue Act of 1898
• July 24, 1897: Dingley tariff, ch. 11, 30 Stat. 151, increased trade duties for revenue and protection
• April 20, 1898: Teller Resolution (Cuba), 30 Stat. 738
• April 25, 1898: Declaration of war on Spain (Spanish–American War), 30 Stat. 364
• June 1, 1898: Erdman Act, 30 Stat. 424
• June 13, 1898: War Revenue Act of 1898, 30 Stat. 448
• July 1, 1898: Bankruptcy Act of 1898 (Henderson-Nelson Act), ch. 541, 30 Stat. 544, gave companies an option of gaining protection from creditors.
• July 7, 1898: Newlands Resolution, No. 55, 30 Stat. 750, authorized the annexation of the Republic of Hawaii
• March 3, 1899: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Ch. 425, 33 Stat. 401, § 9, 30 Stat. 1151

56th United States Congress

• March 14, 1900: Gold Standard Act, Sess. 1, ch. 41, 31 Stat. 45
• April 2, 1900: Foraker Act, Sess. 1, ch. 191, 31 Stat. 77 (Puerto Rico Civil Code)

References