| A | B |
|---|
| Better Business Bureau | Non-governmental agency that hears consumer complaints at local and state level. Tries to steer consumers to reliable businesses that conduct business ethically. |
| Clayton Antitrust Act-1914 | amendment to Sherman Antitrust Act- clarifies laws on monopolies, fair trade, price fixing and price discrimination |
| Clean Air Act | regulates air pollution and the requirements of clean up: issues permits, enforces deadlines related to cleanup of smog, carbon monoxide, ozone, acid rain, and clean fuel emissions issues |
| Consumer Product Safety Act | protects consumer from unreasonable risk of injury while using consumer products that are sold in interstate commerce. Liability included for manufacturing defects, poor design and inadequate instructions or warnings about safe usage. |
| Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | regulatory agency that enforces Equal Employment Opportunity Act and the rules relating to discrimination in the workplace |
| Environmental Protection Agency | Environmental Protection Act created and enforces standards for regulating air, water, noise pollution & toxic wastes through the Environmental Protection Agency |
| Federal Communications Commission | licenses and regulates the operation of TV, radio, telephone and telegraph operations |
| Fair Credit Reporting Act | protects consumers’ credit reputation, allows correction |
| Food and Drug Administration | 1903 -prohibits adulteration or mislabeling of foods, drugs or cosmetics, creates the standards for packaged foods & drugs and approves new pharmaceuticals. (after President Teddy Roosevelt read “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair) |
| Fair Labor Standards Act | regulates minimum wage, maximum hours & child labor laws |
| Fair Packaging & Labeling Act of 1967 | requires that manufacturers truthfully label packages for raw materials (ingredients) used in production and the weight, size, and nutritional value of the product being sold |
| Federal Trade Commission | prohibits deceptive and unfair trade practices among businesses (key word: FAIR PRACTICES) |
| Interstate Commerce Commission) | regulates trade between states that are regulated by Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). ICC determines trade practices, rates and routes for business transacted by crossing between state lines. |
| Justice Department | enforces the laws to maintain free trade, includes attorney generals as top level administrators at state and federal levels |
| Magnuson-Moss Act | provides rules governing the content of product warranties |
| National Labor Relations Board | monitors and governs the relationship between employers and unions |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration | establishes and regulates safety and health standards for employees |
| Patent and Trademark Office | researches applications for new patents, issues patents |
| Robinson-Patman Act of 1936 | an amendment to the Clayton Act, an anti-price discrimination act that protects small businesses by outlawing chain store purchasing goods for lower prices than other retailers |
| Internal Revenue Service | enforces tax statutes and resolves tax related disputes |
| Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 | first antitrust law to eliminate monopolies & foster competition (history: Robber Baron Period) |
| Truth in Lending Act | comprehensive protection for credit transactions, requires loan agreement reveal all terms including APR (annual percentage rate) and total dollar amount of interest charged for the loan period |
| Uniform Commercial Code | group of laws that cover sales transactions |
| United States Department of Agriculture | regulates preparation and sale of fresh produce, meats and dairy products |
| United States Postal Service | established in 1775 to provide a federal system of mail; protects consumers against mail fraud. |
| Ralph Nader | one of best-known consumer advocates in US, lectured widely against corporate carelessness and greed, gained national fame in 1965 with his book “Unsafe At Any Speed” about the Chevrolet Corvair. Nader’s followers were known as “Nader’s Raiders” and brought attention to products that were not safe for consumers. Known as “ Father of the Consumer Movement”. Nader was instrumental in creating OSHA and EPA. |
