U.S Governmental Regulatory Policy from the Progressive Era to Ronald Reagan’s Presidency

Abstract

The history of government regulatory policy in the United States generally goes back to the beginning of the Progressive Era at the end of the 19^th century. Since then, government regulatory activity has expanded in scope and nature, generally in the sense of a greater regulatory presence of the government in society. Nevertheless, there have been phases in which countervailing deregulatory sentiment has prevailed. Given the ever-proliferating number of federal agencies and the increasing impact their rules and laws have on society, understanding government regulatory history as a way of anticipating future developments is of major importance, especially given the present political landscape in Washington.

This article will adopt a historical narrative methodology to examine U.S. government regulatory policy, using a chronological structure and an interpretive approach in offering explanations for the various phases in the regulatory process. Causality and context will be attempted considering key economic, social, political, and cultural factors. Periods of significant regulatory activity will be examined, including the Progressive Era, Wilson’s New Freedom program, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, and the era of deregulation and social regulation in the 1970s. The article will also discuss shifts in legislative authority over regulatory policy between Congress and the Executive branch.