Clayton Antitrust Act
A 1914 US law prohibiting interlocking directorates, cited in the DOJ investigation.
First Mentioned
8/22/2026, 6:36:08 AM
Last Updated
8/22/2026, 6:38:34 AM
Research Retrieved
8/22/2026, 6:38:34 AM
Summary
The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 is a foundational piece of United States federal legislation enacted to bolster and clarify the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. Introduced by Representative Henry De Lamar Clayton and passed by the 63rd United States Congress, the Act aims to curb anticompetitive business practices in their incipiency. It specifically prohibits price discrimination, exclusive dealing arrangements, mergers and acquisitions that substantially lessen competition, and interlocking directorates where individuals serve on boards of competing corporations. The Act is enforced by both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division, while explicitly exempting labor unions from its antitrust strictures. In modern application, the DOJ has invoked the Clayton Act to investigate venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz regarding potential interlocking directorate conflicts across portfolio companies.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Sponsor
Representative Henry De Lamar Clayton
Codification
15 U.S.C. §§ 12–27; 29 U.S.C. §§ 52–53
Enactment Date
1914-10-15
Official Title
An Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other purposes.
Legislative Body
63rd United States Congress
Public Law Citation
Pub. L. 63–212
Labor Union Exemption
Labor unions are explicitly excluded and granted protection for organizing and protesting
Key Prohibited Conduct
Price discrimination, exclusive dealing, anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions, and interlocking directorates
Remedies and Penalties
Civil penalties, injunctions, and private suits for triple damages
Statutes at Large Citation
38 Stat. 730
Primary Enforcement Agencies
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division
Timeline
- The Clayton Antitrust Act (Pub. L. 63–212) is officially enacted into United States law to strengthen antitrust enforcement and prohibit anticompetitive corporate practices. (Source: Wikipedia)
1914-10-15
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaClayton Antitrust Act of 1914
The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 (Pub. L. 63–212, 38 Stat. 730, enacted October 15, 1914, codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 12–27, 29 U.S.C. §§ 52–53) is a part of United States antitrust law with the goal of adding further substance to the U.S. antitrust law regime; the Clayton Act seeks to prevent anticompetitive practices in their incipiency. That regime began with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the first Federal law outlawing practices that were harmful to consumers (monopolies, cartels, and trusts). The Clayton Act specified prohibited conduct, the three-level enforcement scheme, the exemptions, and the remedial measures. Like the Sherman Act, much of the substance of the Clayton Act has been developed and animated by the U.S. courts, particularly the Supreme Court.
Web Search Results
- Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 - Wikipedia
The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 (Pub. L. 63–212, 38 Stat. 730, enacted October 15, 1914, codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 12–27, 29 U.S.C. §§ 52–53) is a part of United States antitrust law with the goal of adding further substance to the U.S. antitrust law regime; the Clayton Act seeks to prevent anticompetitive practices in their incipiency. That regime began with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, the first Federal law outlawing practices that were harmful to consumers (monopolies, cartels, and trusts "Trust (business)")). The Clayton Act specified prohibited conduct, the three-level enforcement scheme, the exemptions, and the remedial measures. Like the Sherman Act, much of the substance of the Clayton Act has been developed and animated by the U.S. courts, particularly the Supreme Court. [...] | Long title | An Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other purposes. | | Nicknames | Clayton Act | | Enacted by | the 63rd United States Congress | | Citations | | Public law | Pub. L. 63–212 | | Statutes at Large | 38 Stat. 730 | | Codification | | U.S.C. sections created | 15 U.S.C. §§ 12–27; 29 U.S.C. §§ 52–53. | | Agencies affected | Federal Trade Commission; United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division | | Legislative history | [...] ## Contents [edit] The Clayton Act made both substantive and procedural modifications to federal antitrust law. Substantively, the act seeks to capture anticompetitive practices in their incipiency by prohibiting particular types of conduct not deemed in the best interest of a competitive market. There are 4 sections of the bill that proposed substantive changes in the antitrust laws by way of supplementing the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. In those sections, the Act thoroughly discusses the following four principles of economic trade and business:
- Clayton Antitrust Act | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Please help us improve our site! No thank you Cornell University insignia Cornell Law School Search Cornell # Clayton Antitrust Act The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, codified at 15 U.S.C. 12-27, is one of the primary pieces of antitrust legislation in the United States. This act was designed to bolster the Sherman Antitrust Act and outlaws the following conduct: price discrimination against competing companies; conditioning sales on exclusive dealing; mergers and acquisitions when they may substantially reduce competition; serving on the board of directors for two competing companies. [...] Each of these prohibitions is designed to prevent monopolistic conduct, particularly by companies attempting to purchase their competition. Penalties for violating the Clayton Act are strictly civil. Individuals harmed by the above anti-competitive actions can sue for triple damages and an injunction. Notably, unlike the Sherman Act, labor unions are explicitly excluded from needing to comply with the Clayton Antitrust Act. Last reviewed in July of 2022 by the [Wex Definitions Team] CIVICS trade regulation COMMERCE commercial activities business law antitrust business organizations commercial law contracts corporations mergers & acquisitions unfair competition wex definitions business sectors commercial transactions government legal education and practice
- Clayton Antitrust Act 1914: Anti-Monopoly Measures
## What Is the Clayton Antitrust Act? The Clayton Antitrust Act, enacted in 1914 and introduced by Rep. Henry De Lamar Clayton, addresses unethical business practices such as price fixing and monopolization. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), this pivotal legislation supplements previous antitrust laws by prohibiting exclusive sales arrangements and discriminatory pricing, along with fostering labor rights through legal protection for organizing and protesting. ## How the Clayton Antitrust Act Shapes Business Practices At the turn of the 20th century, a handful of large U.S. corporations began to dominate entire industry segments by engaging in predatory pricing, exclusive dealings, and mergers designed to destroy competitors. [...] # Clayton Antitrust Act 1914: Anti-Monopoly Measures :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/troypic__troy_segal-5bfc2629c9e77c005142f6d9.jpg) Michael Boyle Michael Boyle:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/image0-MichaelBoyle-d90f2cc61d274246a2be03cdd144f699.jpeg) The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 is a U.S. law designed to enhance fair competition and curb monopolistic practices by regulating unethical business behaviors. ### Key Takeaways Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. ## What Is the Clayton Antitrust Act? [...] There are, however, many people who oppose antitrust laws like the Clayton Act. In their view, allowing businesses to compete without restraints and to fully capitalize on their market power would ultimately prove favorable to consumers and the economy. ## What Are the 4 Main Points of the Clayton Antitrust Act? The Clayton Antitrust Act targeted four anticompetitive practices in particular: ## The Bottom Line The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 remains a cornerstone of U.S. antitrust law by prohibiting anticompetitive practices, such as price discrimination and unethical mergers, to preserve market fairness and competition. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, the Clayton Act supports consumer rights and empowers labor.
- Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914: History, Amendments, Significance - YouTube
The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 is a key piece of U.S. legislation that defines unethical business practices, upholds labor rights,
- Antitrust Laws with Amendments, 1890-1956, Clayton Antitrust Act
Clayton Antitrust Act. An Act To supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints