Mundt–Ferguson Communist Registration Bill

The Mundt–Ferguson Communist Registration Bill was a proposed law that would have required all members of the Communist Party of the United States register with the Attorney General.

Antecedent bills

In 1940, the U.S. Congress passed the Smith Act.

In 1948, the House proposed the Mundt–Nixon Bill, or "Subversive Activities Control Act [of] 1948,",[1][2] as H.R. (House Resolution) 5852,[3] which sought registration of Communist Party members and sources for printed and broadcast material issued by Communist fronts. On May 19, 1948, the bill passed the House by 319 to 58.[4][5][6] The Senate Judicial Committee held hearings at the end of May 1948 "the purpose of receiving testimony and opinions in relation to the constitutionality and practicality of H. R. 5852."[2] However, the United States Senate did not act on the bill.[7]

Mundt–Ferguson Bill of 1950

In 1950, the bill was re-introduced two years later, as the Mundt-Ferguson bill (also known as the Subversive Activities Control Bill). Again it was passed by the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate.

On March 4, 1950, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a "New Mundt Bill" by 8 to 1. According to the New York Times, "the revised Mundt bill would specifically make it a crime, in peace or war, for any Federal employee to transmit secret information to a foreign agent or to a member of a Communist organization. The employees, as well as those receiving the data, would subject to maximum penalties of ten years in jail and $10,000 fines." The same penalties would go to anyone of conspiring to foster establishment of a "totalitarian dictatorship."[8]

McCarran Internal Security Act

U.S. Senator Pat McCarran then took many of the provisions from the bill and included them in legislation he introduced that became the McCarran Internal Security Act, which passed both houses of Congress in 1950.

See also

References
  1. Taylor, Gregory S. (2009). The History of the North Carolina Communist Party. Univ of South Carolina Press. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-57003-802-0. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  2. "Control of Subversive Activities: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary (United States Senate) on H. R. 5852". US Government Printing Office. 31 May 1948. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  3. Deschler, Lewis; Brown, William (1977). "Chapter 9.B.7.4". Deschler's Precedents. Vol. 5. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 3298. ISBN 978-0-16-091721-9. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. Nixon, Richard (1978). RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon. New York: Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 978-0-448-14374-3.
  5. "In Washington Yesterday – The House". New York Times. 20 May 1948.
  6. Fisher, John (20 May 1948). "House Passes Mundt-Nixon Bill 319—58". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  7. "Justice: RG 1 Departmental Files – Justice 1950–1972: 8 Hollinger document boxes (#162-169)". Karl E. Mundt Historical & Educational Foundation and Archives. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  8. Morris, John d. (5 March 1950). "Senate Unit Votes New Mundt Bill: Anti-Red Measure Is Designed to Close Loopholes in Cases Such as Hiss-Chambers" (PDF). New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 6 October 2018.


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