Congress enacted a host of new laws that gave government the power to intervene in the economy. Among other
things, these laws regulated sales of stock, recognized the right of workers to form unions, set rules for wages
and hours, provided cash benefits to the unemployed and retirement income for the elderly, established farm
subsidies, insured bank deposits, and created a massive regional development authority in the Tennessee Valley.
Many more laws and regulations have been enacted since the 1930s to protect workers and consumers further. It is
against the law for employers to discriminate in hiring on the basis of age, sex, race, or religious belief. Child
labor generally is prohibited. Independent labor unions are guaranteed the right to organize, bargain, and strike.
The government issues and enforces workplace safety and health codes. Nearly every product sold in the United
States is affected by some kind of government regulation: food manufacturers must tell exactly what is in a can or
box or jar; no drug can be sold until it is thoroughly tested; automobiles must be built according to safety
standards and must meet pollution standards; prices for goods must be clearly marked; and advertisers cannot
mislead consumers.
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