Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2004
Journal Title
Houston Business and Tax Law Journal
ISSN
1543-2602
Abstract
This article studies this American political debate on the charitable tax exemption from 1864 to 1969, in particular, the debate regarding philanthropic, private foundations. The article's premise is that the debate's core has little evolved since that between the 1850s and 1870s. To create perspective, a short brief of the modern economic significance of the foundation sector follows. Thereafter, the article begins with a review of the preand post-colonial attitudes toward charitable institutions leading up to the 1800s debates, illustrating the incongruity of American policy regarding whether and to what extent to grant charities tax exemption. The 1800s state debates are referenced and correlated to parts of the 1900s federal debate to show the similarity if not sameness of the arguments against and justifications for exemption. The twentieth century legislative examination primarily focuses upon the regulatory evolution for foundations. Finally, the article concludes with a brief discussion of the 1969 tax reform's changes to the foundation rules and the significant twentieth century legislation regulating both public and private foundations.
First Page
496
Volume Number
4
Publisher
University of Houston Law Center
Recommended Citation
William H. Byrnes IV,
The Private Foundation's Topsy Turvy Road in the American Political Process,
4
Hous. Bus. & Tax L.J.
496
(2004).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/496