blue laws

Home > ... > Social Sciences and the Law > Law > Law: Divisions and Codes > ...

blue laws

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

blue laws legislation regulating public and private conduct, especially laws relating to Sabbath observance. The term was originally applied to the 17th-century laws of the theocratic New Haven colony, and appears to originate in A General History of Connecticut (London, 1781), by the Loyalist Anglican clergyman Samuel A. Peters, who had lived in Hebron, Conn. New Haven and other Puritan colonies of New England had rigid laws prohibiting Sabbath breaking, breaches in family discipline, drunkenness, and excesses in dress. Although such legislation had its origins in European Sabbatarian and sumptuary laws , the term "blue laws" is usually applied only to American legislation. With the dissolution of the Puritan theocracies after the American Revolution, blue laws declined; many of them lay forgotten in state statute books only to be revived much later. The growth of the prohibition movement in the 19th cent. and early 20th cent. brought with it other laws regulating private conduct. Many states forbade the sale of cigarettes, and laws prohibited secular amusements as well as all unnecessary work on Sunday; provision was made for strict local censorship of books, plays, films and other means of instruction and entertainment. Although much of this legislation has been softened if not repealed, there are still many areas and communities in the United States, especially those where religious fundamentalism is strong, that retain blue laws. The Supreme Court has upheld Sunday closing laws ruling that such laws do not interfere with the free exercise of religion and do not constitute the establishment of a state religion.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-bluelaws" title="Facts and information about blue laws">blue laws</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"blue laws." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 28 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"blue laws." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 28, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-bluelaws.html

"blue laws." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-bluelaws.html

Learn more about citation styles

Blue Laws

The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States | 2005 | | © The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Blue Laws See Sunday Closing Laws.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O184-BlueLaws" title="Facts and information about blue laws">blue laws</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

KERMIT L. HALL. "Blue Laws." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Oxford University Press. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

KERMIT L. HALL. "Blue Laws." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Oxford University Press. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 28, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O184-BlueLaws.html

KERMIT L. HALL. "Blue Laws." The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Oxford University Press. 2005. Retrieved November 28, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O184-BlueLaws.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

DVD Forum backs Toshiba/NEC HD-DVD. (Law & Regulation).
Newspaper article from: Screen Digest; 11/1/2002; 567 words ; ...been made by the DVD Forum to adopt or reject any particular blue laser high-definition DVD format, contrary to reports that...the Forum established study groups to look at two approaches to blue laser HD-DVD, but only the AOD format has been officially...
'BLUES' NOVEL PLUMBS 'GLUTTONS' OF THE OCEAN.(Perspective)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 6/12/1988; 700+ words ; Byline: Paul Grondahl Blues; by John Hersey; Vintage Books...Oh, every time I haul in a blue, big or little, I have so...literature should be glad that "Blues," last year's national best...somehow gets synthesized in "Blues," which carries an old man...irreparably, the delicate laws of ...
Mo. Blues' status at issue: state judge finds for-profit conversion a violation.(Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri)
Magazine article from: Modern Healthcare; 1/6/1997; ; 700+ words ; ...clarify how Missouri law truly applies within...up to Blue Cross and Blue Shield." Consumers...advocacy group battling Blues conversions in other...settlement. But in May the Blues sued the state, seeking...operated within Missouri laws governing health services...the reorganization ...
Blues losses decline for small-group business coverage.(Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan data for 2001)(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Crain's Detroit Business; 4/29/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...Michigan legislators to introduce laws to change the way the Blues and the health insurance market...introduced next month. The Blues are asking that the legislation...health insurers and allow the Blues to decline coverage for companies...the insurer of last resort: Blue Cross. Engler has ...
Blue Cross bucks national trend even as competition heats up
Magazine article from: The Mississippi Business Journal; 11/12/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...company, we are now subject to the same laws, rules and regulations as other insurance...operating in the state." However, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi has no plans...stock company, said Bonin. "Each Blue Cross Blue Shield plan decides what...
Blues in battle over Accident Fund; Foes fight expansion 'with guns loaded'.(Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Inc.)
Magazine article from: Crain's Detroit Business; 4/14/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...corporate communications for Blue Cross Blue Shield. He said the Blues will vigorously respond...business. Under state law, the Accident Fund...amendments. Hetzel said the Blues should not be required...the last four years, Blue Cross has transferred...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Files Suit Against Former Licensee CareFirst to Prevent Use of BCBS Trademark and Names
Newspaper article from: U.S. Newswire; 5/22/2003; 700+ words ; ...thereby lose the right to use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and marks," said Scott...the legislation was enacted into law. "It was not our desire to terminate...that ensures the independence of Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and...
Blues to ask state for level playing field for small groups.(Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan)(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Crain's Detroit Business; 2/4/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...the same regulations as the Blues in the small-group market. Blue Cross wants caps on premium...regulatory rate review for the Blues and commercial health insurers...address, Engler called for laws requiring the state's insurance commissioner to select the Blue Cross and Blue Shield ...
930 Blues Cafe, gaining international attention for state: Byrd promotes blues as economic development tool, entertainment.
Magazine article from: Mississippi Business Journal; 1/13/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...has added to the Mississippi blues product by opening the 930 Blues Cafe." His son, Isaac Byrd...to bring authentic, vintage blues to Jackson," said Byrd, a...amp; Associates, a Jackson law firm with 60 employees located...
930 Blues Cafe gaining international attention for state
Magazine article from: The Mississippi Business Journal; 1/13/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...has added to the Mississippi blues product by opening the 930 Blues Cafe." His son, Isaac Byrd...to bring authentic, vintage blues to Jackson," said Byrd, a...amp; Associates, a Jackson law firm with 60 employees located...
Click to see an enlarged picture
blue laws. Other (Public Domain)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Current blue laws News: