Amidst the raging war between Russia and Ukraine, it makes one wonder about where the world is headed, socially as well as politically. When we look at the horrible images and videos continuously running on the channels covering the ongoing war, it makes us question what humans can be reduced to – practically nothing.

In times of such uncertainty, I have been thinking about the laws and bills that keeps a country going and helps the governments make their people feel safer if not entirely safe. Here is a list of the 5 most important laws in the US that played a key role in stabilising US as the world’s leading country as it is today.

5 Important Laws In The US

1. Civil Rights Act (1964):

In 1964, Congress passed Public Law 88-352 (78 Stat. 241). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and later sexual orientation and gender identity.

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Source - https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/civil-rights-center/statutes/civil-rights-act-of-1964 & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964

2. Voting Rights Act (1965)

This act was signed into law on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.[7][8] It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights movement on August 6, 1965, and Congress later amended the Act five times to expand its protections.[7] Designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the Act sought to secure the right to vote for racial minorities throughout the country, especially in the South. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Act is considered to be the most effective piece of federal civil rights legislation ever enacted in the country.[9] It is also “one o…

Source - https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/voting-rights-act#:~:text=This%20act%20was%20signed%20into,as%20a%20prerequisite%20to%20voting & https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965

3. Medicare and Medicaid acts (1965)

On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare and Medicaid Act, also known as the Social Security Amendments of 1965, into law. It established Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for people with limited income.

The Social Security Amendments of 1965, Pub.L. 89–97, 79 Stat. 286, enacted July 30, 1965, was legislation in the United States whose most important provisions resulted in creation of two programs: Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation initially provided federal health insurance for the elderly (over 65) and for financially challenged families.

Source - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_Amendments_of_1965 & https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/medicare-and-medicaid-act#:~:text=On%20July%2030%2C%201965%2C%20President,for%20people%20with%20limited%20income

4. National Defense Education Act (1958)

The National Defense Education Act of 1958 became one of the most successful legislative initiatives in higher education. It established the legitimacy of federal funding of higher education and made substantial funds available for low-cost student loans, boosting public and private colleges and universities.

The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was signed into law on September 2, 1958, providing funding to United States education institutions at all levels.[1] An Act to strengthen the national defense and to encourage and assist in the expansion and improvement of educational programs to meet critical national needs and for other purposes.

Source - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Education_Act & https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Sputnik_Spurs_Passage_of_National_Defense_Education_Act.htm

5. Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981)

The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA) was the largest tax cut in U.S. history. Signed by President Ronald Reagan about six months after he took office, ERTA slashed the top income tax rate and allowed for faster expensing of depreciable assets.

The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (ERTA), or Kemp–Roth Tax Cut, was an Act that introduced a major tax cut, which was designed to encourage economic growth. The federal law enacted by the 97th US Congress and signed into law by US President Ronald Reagan. The Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS)[1] was a major component of the Act and was amended in 1986 to become the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS.)

Source - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Recovery_Tax_Act_of_1981 & https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economic-recovery-tax-act.asp#:~:text=The%20Economic%20Recovery%20Tax%20Act%20of%201981%20(ERTA)%20was%20the,faster%20expensing%20of%20depreciable%20assets

I hope this article will provide you some insight into the fundamental laws of the US and how it sets it apart from other countries.