History of the Act

• The Endangered Species Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Harrison A. Williams on July 12, 1973, and was given committee consideration. Within one month, the Senate passed the Endangered Species Act, and the House passed the act in September 1973. President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law on December 28, 1973. Find out why Senator Williams wanted to introduce the Endangered Species Act and what role the committee, Senate, House, and President had in its passing into law. Review the amendments to the Endangered Species Act. Understanding how the Endangered Species Act came into effect is important to understanding the legislative process.
  
  

Criteria for Listing on the Endangered Species List

• In order for a species to be listed and protected under the Endangered Species Act, the species must meet one of five criteria, which includes present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment to its habitat; an over utilization for commercial, recreational or educational purposes; decline of the species due to predation or disease; inadequacy of regulatory systems; and natural or manmade factors affecting its existence. When a potential candidate for the list arises, the species is granted an emergency listing with a high priority. Discuss why this process was established and determine the benefits and the drawbacks.
  
  

Who is On the List?

• Create a list of endangered and threatened species or find one online. Students should create a chart that outlines the species of the plant or animal, the reason that the species was listed as threatened or endangered, and the year it was put on the list. Determine what is being done for each species on the list in order to protect it. Students can try to find alternative solutions to protecting the endangered species.
  
  

Delisting

• When a species is delisted, it is normally because a threat has been eliminated or controlled, and that the population has grown. Sometimes inaccurate data has put a species on the endangered list, which results in their eventual delisting. Animals are often down listed to a classification of threatened rather than endangered. Find out how many species have been delisted or down listed in the last 10 years.