Emergency Banking Act

(noun)

One of the first pieces of New Deal's legislation. Although passed as an emergency measure, it largely stabilized the banking system.

Related Terms

Examples of Emergency Banking Act in the following topics:

  • Banking and Finance Reform

    • On March 9, Roosevelt sent to Congress the Emergency Banking Act, drafted in large part by Hoover's top advisors.
    • The act was passed and signed into law the same day.
    • The Emergency Banking Act, also known as the Glass–Steagall Act, also limited commercial bank securities activities and affiliations between commercial banks and securities firms to regulate speculations.
    • Several provisions of the act sought to restrict "speculative" uses of bank credit.
    • The act also established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which insured deposits for up to $2,500, ending the risk of runs on banks.

  • Launching the New Deal

    • Only 36 hours after taking the presidential oath, Roosevelt closed all the banks (the so-called Bank Holiday).
    • The Emergency Banking Act followed the Proclamation and enabled the government to close weak banks and reopen more stable banks.
    • The initiative helped to rebuild trust in the U.S. banking system.
    • Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA; initiated by Hoover) created local and state government mostly unskilled jobs.
    • The National Labor Relations Act (1933; known also as the Wagner Act), which established the National Labor Relations Board (1935).

  • Competing Solutions

    • Also in 1932, Hoover signed the Emergency Relief and Construction Act, which authorized considerable funds for public works programs and direct relief programs.
    • All the banking transactions were suspended.
    • The legislation that followed this Proclamation was the Emergency Banking Act, which enabled the government to close weak banks and reopen more stable banks.
    • The initiative helped to rebuild trust in the U.S. banking system.
    • Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA; initiated by Hoover) created government, mostly unskilled jobs.

  • Strengthening the Monetary System

    • On March 9, 1933, the Emergency Banking Act was introduced to and passed by Congress.
    • In June of the same year, more long-term solutions were presented in the Banking Act of 1933 (also known as the Glass-Steagall Act although this term is not precise and usually refers to the provisions of the Banking Act of 1933 that dealt with commercial bank).
    • The most important provisions introduced by the 1933 Banking Act were:
    • Some of the provisions of the 1933 Banking Act are still in effect.
    • This picture shows the two congressional sponsors of the 1933 Banking Act, which introduced unprecedented reforms to the banking sector.

  • The Glass Steagall Banking Act

    • Thus, the United States government passed the Glass-Steagall Banking Act in 1933.
    • In practice, the Glass-Steagall Banking Act insulated investment banking from the competition.
    • The United States government repealed pieces of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 to allow U.S. investment banks to compete internationally as they moved into commercial banking and insurance.
    • The Glass-Steagall Act also created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
    • Contagion is a bank run on one bank leads to bank runs on other banks.

  • Becoming an International Bank

    • Method 1: The U.S. bank opens a bank branch in a foreign country.
    • Bank branches help the bank transfer money across nations' borders.
    • Method 3: The U.S. bank becomes an Edge Act Corporation.
    • Furthermore, the Federal Reserve System exempts the subsidiary from some U.S. banking regulations and has the authority to approve the Edge ActCorporation.
    • An international banking facility, similar to an Edge Act corporation, accepts deposits from foreigners and makes loans to foreigners.

  • The New Deal

    • Before the New Deal, deposits at banks were not insured against loss.
    • When thousands of banks faced bankruptcy, many people lost all their savings.
    • The First New Deal dealt with diverse groups that needed help for economic survival, from banking and railroads to industry and farming.
    • The Federal Emergency Relief Association (FERA), for instance, provided $500 million for relief operations by states and cities, while the Civil Works Administration (CWA) gave localities money to operate make-work projects.
    • Housing Authority and Farm Security Administration, both begun in 1937, and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which set maximum hours and minimum wages for most categories of workers.

  • Emergency Powers

    • In September 2011, President Barack Obama informed Congress that the State of National Emergency, in effect since September 14, 2001, will be extended another year.
    • Sawyer established that presidents may not act contrary to Acts of Congress during an emergency.
    • As a result, in 1976, the National Emergencies Act set a limit of two years on emergency declarations unless the president explicitly extends them and requires the president to specify in advance which legal provisions will be invoked.
    • In September 2011, President Barack Obama informed Congress that the State of National Emergency, in effect since September 14, 2001, would be extended another year.
    • The National Emergencies Act grants various powers to the president during times of emergency and was intended to prevent a president from declaring a state of emergency of indefinite duration .

  • Commercial Banks

    • For the most part, the term commercial bank refers to divisions of banks that deal primarily with mid-sized to large businesses.
    • When considering commercial banks, it's useful to understand that they act as an outlet for strategic financial decisions for businesses to offset certain risks, procure resources, invest, and store assets.
    • While banks offer other services in addition to these, the primary function of commercial banks is to act as a critical resource for businesses to access capital, enable investments, and mitigate risks.
    • There are a few types of risks banks encounter, which are useful in understanding how banks function:
    • Perceive the role of commercial banks from the business sense, and recognize the variety of risks banks encounter as a result

  • Congressional Initiatives

    • However, faced with a tide of poverty, Hoover and Congress approved the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to spur new home construction and reduce foreclosures.
    • The final Hoover Administration attempt to rescue the economy occurred in 1932 with the passage of the Emergency Relief and Construction Act, which authorized funds for public works programs and the creation of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC).
    • The agency gave $2 billion in aid to state and local governments, and made loans to banks, railroads, mortgage associations and other businesses.
    • Congress was desperate to increase federal revenue, and in one of the largest tax increases in American history, the Revenue Act of 1932 raised income tax on the highest incomes from 25% to 63%.
    • Also, a "check tax" was included that placed a 2-cent tax (equal to more than 30 cents in today's economy) on all bank checks.