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Consumer Protection: Federal

Selected Consumer Laws

Statutes from the FTC

Statutes Relating to Consumer Protection Mission from the Federal Trade Commission

This page from the Federal Trade Commission links to all the federal statutes related to the FTC's consumer protection mission. Statutes include a range of laws from Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act to Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Federal Agency and Commission Websites

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
    The CFPB was established by the The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act) as a new bureau within the Federal Reserve Board. It issues regulations and guidance documents, collects data, processes complaints, and conducts consumer research in its supervision of certain financial firms and its enforcement of federal consumer financial laws, including the Home Mortgage Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), involving deceptive, abusive or otherwise prohibited practices relating to most consumer financial products or services.
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
    The CPSC is responsible for regulating thousands of types of consumer products under its jurisdiction, including toys, many household products and appliances, and other specific products posing dangers to children or other hazards. It has authority to issue regulations, standards, bans, and recalls in areas governed by 11 federal laws, including the Consumer Product Safety Act (CSPA).
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in the United States and its territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the commission publishes and implements regulations, processes license applications, conducts investigations and analyses complaints, and provides consumer information. This site is a good source of proposed regulations, policy and legislative initiatives, working papers and reports, and consumer guides. 
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency created by the Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation's financial system by insuring deposits, examining and supervising banks and thrift institutions for soundness and compliance with consumer protection laws, and issuing regulations. This website also provides access to FDIC banking industry and policy research and to data on specific banks.

  • Federal Reserve System Board of Governors (Federal Reserve Board)
    The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. It conducts the nation's monetary policy by influencing the monetary and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates, supervises and regulates banks to ensure the soundness of the financial system and protects credit rights of consumers. This site provides working papers and other resources on the financial and banking systems and monetary policy, economic data, consumer research, and consumer guides.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    The FTC is a bipartisan federal agency with a dual mission to protect consumers and promote competition. It enforces the antitrust laws and challenges anti-competitive mergers. The FTC also protects consumers by conducting investigations and taking legal action against companies who violate the law, with the aim of stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace. It issues regulations and collects consumer complaints on issues from deceptive advertising to identity theft. Among the many laws the FTC is charged with administering or enforcing are the Clayton Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Magnuson Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act, the Consumer Leasing Act, and the National Do-Not-Call Registry legislation.
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
    The FDA regulates all food except for meat, poultry and some egg products (regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture); prescription and non-prescription drugs; cosmetics; vaccines, blood products and other biologics; medical devices, and consumer products that emit radiation. It also regulates product requirements and the legal marketing and labeling of tobacco products. The FDA conducts inspections, investigations, enforcement actions, and issues warnings on dangerous and defective products. It enforces and administers the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and its many amendments, including the Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987 and the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990, as well as other legislation. This site provides regulatory information, guidance documents, consumer research reports and surveys, and other topical reports.
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
    The NHTSA, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, enforces safety performance standards for motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, including brakes, tires, seat belts and car seats. It investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations, posts vehicle manufacturer recalls and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics. The NHTSA also conducts research on traffic safety, providing reports, surveys, consumer information and other data on this site.