mccarran-walter act: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Academic, Legal
Quick answer
What does “mccarran-walter act” mean?
A U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A U.S. federal law passed in 1952 that revised immigration and naturalization policy, maintaining national-origin quotas and strengthening security provisions.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which codified existing immigration laws, established a preference system based on skills and family reunification, but is often criticized for its discriminatory national-origin quotas and Cold War-era ideological exclusions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to U.S. history and law. In British contexts, it would only appear in discussions of U.S. history, comparative politics, or international relations. No direct British equivalent exists.
Connotations
In the U.S., it connotes a specific era of restrictive, discriminatory immigration policy. In the UK, it is a technical/historical term for a foreign law.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general British English; low frequency in American English, confined to specific academic, legal, or historical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “mccarran-walter act” in a Sentence
The [McCarran-Walter Act] + [past tense verb]...[Subject] + [was/were] + [affected/governed] + by the McCarran-Walter Act.The McCarran-Walter Act + [established/restricted/codified] + [object].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mccarran-walter act” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not commonly used adjectivally]
American English
- The McCarran-Walter-era policies were restrictive.
- He studied the McCarran-Walter provisions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in historical analysis of labour migration.
Academic
Common in history, political science, law, and American studies papers discussing mid-20th century U.S. policy.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by someone with specific historical/political knowledge.
Technical
Used in legal texts, historical documents, and policy analyses concerning U.S. immigration law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mccarran-walter act”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mccarran-walter act”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mccarran-walter act”
- Misspelling as 'McCarren-Walter', 'McCarron-Walter'. Using 'Act' without the definite article 'the' when referring to it specifically (e.g., 'McCarran-Walter Act was passed' vs. 'The McCarran-Walter Act was passed').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
It is controversial because it maintained and systematised immigration quotas based on national origin, which discriminated against immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Southern/Eastern Europe, and included provisions to exclude immigrants for their political beliefs.
No, its core framework was largely replaced by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (the Hart-Celler Act), which abolished the national-origin quota system. However, some of its codified statutes may remain in amended form.
Senator Pat McCarran (D-Nevada) and Congressman Francis Walter (D-Pennsylvania), the primary sponsors of the legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.
A U.
Mccarran-walter act is usually formal, historical, academic, legal in register.
Mccarran-walter act: in British English it is pronounced /məˌkær.ən ˈwɔːl.tər ækt/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˌkær.ən ˈwɑːl.t̬ɚ ækt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'McCarran and Walter acted to control the border in 1952.' The names and year are the key identifiers.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GATEKEEPER (selectively allowing entry), A LEGACY (of past policy), A BARRIER (to certain groups).
Practice
Quiz
What was a primary criticism of the McCarran-Walter Act?