📌 Link to the Text of the Act
📌 Why It Was Done
The FLSA was enacted during the New Deal to establish minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards, addressing abusive labor practices and exploitation.
📌 Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before FLSA, there was no comprehensive federal wage or hour law. States had patchwork labor laws, but enforcement was inconsistent and often weak.
📌 Overreach or Proper Role?
Supporters view it as a cornerstone of workers’ rights. Critics argue federal wage floors interfere with state and local economies. The Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality after initially rejecting similar laws in earlier decades.
📌 Who or What It Controls
- •Private and public employers engaged in interstate commerce
- •Employees covered by the Act (most workers, with some exemptions)
- •Youth labor practices through restrictions on hours and types of work
📌 Key Sections / Citations
- •29 U.S.C. § 206 (minimum wage)
- •29 U.S.C. § 207 (overtime)
- •29 U.S.C. § 212 (child labor)
- •29 U.S.C. § 211 (recordkeeping)
📌 Recent Changes or Live Controversies
- •Federal minimum wage remains at $7.25/hour (unchanged since 2009), sparking ongoing debate
- •Litigation continues over overtime exemptions for salaried workers
- •States and cities have enacted higher minimum wages, creating a patchwork of standards
📌 Official Sources
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