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Law reformCA

Keep, change, or repeal: Ban on eating an orange in a bathtub?

A long-standing California oddity reportedly makes it illegal to eat an orange while in a bathtub.

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Statute and mandate status

Ban on eating an orange in a bathtub

Delightfully Unverifiable

Why it matters: Harmless on its own — but it shows how laws accumulate and never sunset.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: Congressional Trading Disclosure?

The STOCK Act requires members of Congress to disclose stock trades within 45 days and bars trading on non-public information. It does not ban members from owning or trading individual stocks, and the penalty for late disclosure is a $200 fine.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 112-105

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Statute and mandate status

STOCK Act

Federal · 2012 · Public Law 112-105

Partially Weakened

Why it matters: Dozens of members file late or trade in industries they regulate. Citizens have consistently polled 70%+ for an outright ban.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE?

This is the table of contents for Title 42 of U.S. federal law—a massive collection of statutes covering public health, welfare, housing, social security, civil rights, and scientific research. The document you've provided shows the organizational structure and chapter headings, not specific active laws, with many chapters marked as repealed, omitted, or transferred over the decades.

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Statute and mandate status

THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Federal · 2024

Structural Framework

Why it matters: Title 42 is foundational to dozens of major federal programs affecting healthcare, housing assistance, child welfare, Social Security, Medicare, and civil rights protections. Citizens debate how these programs are funded, administered, and whether they should be expanded, reformed, or reduced.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: Platform Liability Shield?

Section 230 shields online platforms from liability for content their users post, while letting them moderate freely. It is often called 'the 26 words that created the internet.'

AI summaryPlain-language reading of 47 U.S.C. § 230

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Statute and mandate status

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act

Federal · 1996 · 47 U.S.C. § 230

Controversial, Needs Update

Why it matters: Both parties want to change it — for opposite reasons. Any reform reshapes speech, moderation, and platform accountability online.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: Federal Drug Scheduling?

This law classifies drugs into five 'schedules.' Cannabis remains Schedule I — the most restrictive category, defined as having no accepted medical use — despite legalization in most states for medical use.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 91-513

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Statute and mandate status

Controlled Substances Act (Drug Scheduling)

Federal · 1970 · Public Law 91-513

Needs Update

Why it matters: The federal-state conflict on cannabis, research barriers, and sentencing disparities all trace back to this scheduling framework.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: Mass Surveillance Authorities?

Passed weeks after 9/11, this law expanded federal surveillance powers, including bulk collection authorities later revealed and partially curtailed. Some provisions have expired; others persist in modified form.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 107-56

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Statute and mandate status

USA PATRIOT Act (Surveillance Provisions)

Federal · 2001 · Public Law 107-56

Partially Reformed, Ongoing Debate

Why it matters: It sits at the center of the privacy-vs-security debate. Civil-liberties advocates across the spectrum push to narrow it.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: Campaign Finance?

This law restricted 'soft money' and certain election-time ads. Much of its framework was later weakened by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 107-155

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Statute and mandate status

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold)

Federal · 2002 · Public Law 107-155

Partially Weakened

Why it matters: Political spending now exceeds $16B per cycle, much of it 'dark money' with undisclosed donors. Disclosure reform is among the most-requested fixes.

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Law reformKS

Keep, change, or repeal: Ban on serving wine in teacups?

A Kansas Prohibition-era rule technically still bars serving wine in teacups.

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Ban on serving wine in teacups

Delightfully Absurd

Why it matters: Outdated alcohol rules linger for decades after the reason for them is gone.

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Law reformNY

Keep, change, or repeal: Ban on the 'nose-thumbing' gesture?

An 1845 New York law targets greeting someone by putting your thumb to your nose and wiggling your fingers.

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Statute and mandate status

Ban on the 'nose-thumbing' gesture

Delightfully Absurd

Why it matters: Statutes written for a vanished era still technically bind — until citizens clean them up.

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Law reformAL

Keep, change, or repeal: Ban on fake mustaches that cause laughter in church?

An old Alabama ordinance bars wearing a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

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Statute and mandate status

Ban on fake mustaches that cause laughter in church

Delightfully Absurd

Why it matters: A reminder that the books are full of unenforced relics nobody has bothered to remove.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: FOOD AND DRUGS?

This document is the table of contents for Title 21 of U.S. law, which covers food and drug regulation. It lists 29 chapters covering everything from basic food safety and drug approval to meat and poultry inspection, drug abuse prevention, and international narcotics trafficking. Most of the original 1906 Food and Drugs Act sections have been replaced by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and later updates.

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FOOD AND DRUGS

Federal · 2024

Working As Intended

Why it matters: These laws affect anyone who buys food, medicine, or supplements—they set minimum safety standards and define what manufacturers can and cannot claim about their products. The debate centers on whether regulations are too strict (hindering innovation and competition) or too lenient (failing to catch unsafe products before they reach consumers).

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: ARMED FORCES?

This is Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the foundational law governing the entire U.S. Armed Forces. It establishes the structure, organization, and authority of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Reserve Components. The law covers everything from how military personnel are recruited and promoted to how the armed forces are commanded and equipped.

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Statute and mandate status

ARMED FORCES

Federal · 2024

Continuously Updated

Why it matters: Title 10 affects millions of active duty and reserve service members, their families, and defense contractors. Citizens debate how the military should be organized and resourced, whether military personnel have adequate rights and protections, and how defense spending should be prioritized against other national needs.

Reform votes shape amendment drafts, separate from bill YES/NO mandates on /accountability.

Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: An act to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purpo?

This law updates the Higher Education Act of 1965 by making changes to federal student financial aid programs, including Pell Grants and student loans, expanding aid to minority-serving institutions, requiring colleges to disclose more information about costs and textbooks, and regulating private student loans. It also makes adjustments to teacher education programs, international education initiatives, and programs serving students with disabilities.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 110-315

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Statute and mandate status

An act to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.

Federal · 2008 · Public Law 110-315

Foundational, Regularly Updated

Why it matters: This law affects millions of students and families paying for college, as well as colleges and universities receiving federal funding. People debate whether the aid reforms adequately address college affordability, how strict regulations on private lenders should be, and whether federal funding for specific institutions is fair.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: An act to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965?

This law extended federal student aid programs and other higher education initiatives under the Higher Education Act of 1965 for one additional month, pushing their expiration date from March 31, 2008 to April 30, 2008. It was a temporary measure to keep these programs running while Congress worked on longer-term education legislation.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 110-198

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Statute and mandate status

An act to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Federal · 2008 · Public Law 110-198

Outdated

Why it matters: This affected millions of students relying on federal financial aid, grants, and loans. Citizens debate whether temporary extensions are an effective way to govern education policy or whether Congress should pass permanent, comprehensive legislation instead of repeatedly extending programs.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: An act to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965?

This law temporarily extended federal student loan and grant programs under the Higher Education Act that were set to expire. It also made several specific changes: it allowed some lenders to continue acting as trustees for college loans under certain conditions, made it easier for Hispanic-serving institutions to qualify for federal grants, adjusted how guaranty agencies calculate maintenance fees, and created a program to forgive federal student loans for people who died or became permanently disabled in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (and their families).

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 109-292

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Statute and mandate status

An act to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.

Federal · 2006 · Public Law 109-292

Expired Extension

Why it matters: This law affected millions of college students and families relying on federal student loans and grants, as well as survivors and families of 9/11 victims. Citizens debate the appropriate role and cost of federal student aid programs, how much debt should be forgiven, and whether colleges serving Hispanic students need special support.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: An act to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965?

This law temporarily extended federal higher education programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 by three months, moving the expiration date from July 31, 2007 to October 31, 2007. It was a short-term extension to keep student loan programs, grants, and other education funding running while Congress worked on longer-term legislation.

AI summaryPlain-language reading of Public Law 110-51

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Statute and mandate status

An act to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.

Federal · 2007 · Public Law 110-51

Expired Temporary Measure

Why it matters: This affects millions of college students and families relying on federal financial aid, loans, and education grants. Without these temporary extensions, education programs would have lapsed, potentially disrupting aid disbursements and forcing Congress to pass emergency measures.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS?

This is the main federal law organizing how the U.S. government runs space programs, including NASA's activities and commercial space businesses. It covers everything from launching rockets and managing the International Space Station to allowing private companies to explore and use space resources like minerals from asteroids.

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NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS

Federal · 2024

Working As Intended

Why it matters: This law affects NASA employees, aerospace contractors, space companies, and anyone interested in space exploration or satellite technology. Citizens debate whether the government should prioritize human missions to the Moon and Mars, how much to support commercial space ventures, and how to balance public space exploration with private profit-making.

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Law reformFederal statute

Keep, change, or repeal: EDUCATION?

This is the table of contents for Title 20 of the U.S. Code, which organizes all federal education laws. It shows chapters covering topics like special education for students with disabilities, student financial aid, civil rights protections in schools, vocational training, and federal support for libraries and museums.

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EDUCATION

Federal · 2024

Administrative Framework

Why it matters: This framework affects students, schools, and parents because it governs federal funding, accessibility requirements, and anti-discrimination rules in education. Citizens debate how much federal involvement there should be in education versus state and local control, and how funding should be distributed.

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