2015 Event The Greek parliament approves a euro bailout package that contains conditions rejected by voters during an earlier referendum; failed confidence in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras by his Syriza party may now oblige him to call new elections 2015 Event The German government approves the Greek bailout deal, which was also approved by the Greek parliament earlier this week; German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that chaos would result if the deal did not go through 2015 Event The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approves net neutrality rules, which guarantee equal Internet access to all users; broadband companies had been seeking the ability to sell faster access to certain customers while slowing access for others 2014 Event The cabinet of Israel approves a bill stating that the nation is both a democratic state and the Jewish homeland; the bill is meant to address political pressure from groups that deny or ignore Israel�s Jewish identity 2014 Event The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves an electric nerve stimulating device for treatment of migraine headaches 2013 Event A vote by the General Synod of the Church of England approves legislation allowing women bishops to be ordained by 2014 2013 Event Part of the ongoing Samaikyandhra Movement, protests and strikes erupt after the Cabinet of India approves the bifurcation of the state of Andrha Pradesh 2013 Event The upper house of the U.K. approves of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill; starting in 2014, gay marriage will be allowed in England and Wales 2012 Event The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves of Truvada, the first drug shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection 2012 Event Richard Dawkins, an atheist, ethologist and evolutionary biologist, approves of British education secretary Michael Gove's plan of sending free King James Bibles to every state school 2012 Event The State Senate of Maryland approves a bill allowing same-sex marriage in the state 2012 Event Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the Cabinet of Japan approves a bill placing a 40-year cap on the life of nuclear reactors 2012 Event Justine Greening, the U.K. Secretary of State for Transport approves the HS2, a high-speed rail line that will link major cities in the U.K. to London 2011 Event The National Diet of Japan, Japan's bicameral legislature, approves Yoshihiko Noda as its new Prime Minister 2011 Event The International Monetary Fund approves a new three-year loan for Haiti worth $60 million, canceling Haiti's $268 million debt 2011 Event The European Union approves a $110.8 billion (78 billion euro) bailout package for Portugal 2011 Event The U.S. Texas Senate approves amended legislation allowing students in Texas to carry handguns on campus 2010 Event Japan's government approves a $60 billion economic stimulus package 2010 Event The Vatican approves of Australian Mary MacKillop as their first saint for canonization 2010 Event The parliament in Portugal approves a bill legalizing same-sex marriage 1998 Event House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment, charging President Clinton with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice 1998 Event House of Representatives approves impeachment inquiry of President Clinton 1997 Event NHL approves franchises in Nash, Atlanta, Columbus, and Minn-St. Paul 1996 Event Players union approves new collective bargaining agreement 1996 Event U.S. Senate approves 90 cents raise to $4.25 minimum wage 1996 Event NHL approves move of Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix 1995 Event FDA approves new therapy for use as an initial AIDS treatment, 3TC 1995 Event U.S. approves 1st chicken pox vaccine, Varivax by Merck 1991 Event Soviet parliament approves law allowing citizens to travel abroad 1990 Event Senate Judiciary committee approves Souter's Supreme Court 1990 Event NCAA approves random drug testing for college football players 1989 Event Poland's Sejm (National Assembly) approves prime minister Mazowiecki 1989 Event Atlanta Fulton County Comm approves $210M stadium for the Falcons 1988 Event FDA approves Minoxidil as a hair loss treatment 1988 Event NBA approves addition of 3rd referee in 1988-89 season 1988 Event Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves nomination of Judge Anthony M Kennedy to U.S. Supreme Court 1987 Event FDA approves sale of AZT (AIDS treatment) 1986 Event U.S. Senate approves tax reform 1985 Event U.S. approves screening test for AIDS 1982 Event FCC approves AM stereo radio, KTSA San Antonio goes stereo 1981 Event U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor 1981 Event AL approves sale of White Sox to Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn for $20 million, and 80% of Mariners to George Argyros for $104 million 1979 Event NL approves Astros sales from Ford Motors to John J McMullen for $19M 1979 Event Israeli parliament approves peace treaty with Egypt 1978 Event Referendum approves new constitution of Rwanda 1978 Event Israeli Government approves "in principle," a draft compromise peace 1978 Event Congress approves Susan B. Anthony Dollar 1978 Event House of Representatives approves (233-169), 39-month extension for ERA 1978 Event AL approves transfer of Red Sox to Jean Yawkey for $15M 1976 Event Episcopal Church approves ordination of women as priests and bishop 1976 Event AL approves purchase of Toronto franchise by LaBatt Brewing for $7M 1975 Event U.N. General Assembly approves resolution equating Zionism with racism 1974 Event House Judiciary approves 2 Articles of Impeachment against President Nixon 1973 Event Nevada approves pari-mutuel betting on Jai Alai 1973 Event U.S. Supreme Court approves equal rights to females in military 1972 Event Congress approves Equal Rights Amendment (never ratified) 1971 Event Senate approves amendment lowering voting age to 18 1969 Event Canada's House of Commons approves equality of French-English lang 1965 Event Israeli cabinet approves diplomatic relations with West Germany 1964 Event Baseball approves a free-agent draft 1964 Event U.S. Congress approves Gulf of Tonkin resolution 1961 Event Soviet Party Congress unanimously approves a resolution removing Stalin's body from Lenin's tomb in Red Square 1961 Event New York Senate approves $55M for a baseball stadium at Flushing Meadows 1960 Event AL approves Washington Senators move to become Minnesota Twins and announces franchises in LA and Washington D.C. for 1961 1959 Event Players Association approves 2 All-Star Games in 1960, to be held in Kansas City and NY 1958 Event Los Angeles Coliseum Commission approves 2-yr pact allows Dodgers to use facility 1957 Event LA City Council approves 300-acre site in Chavez Ravine for Dodgers 1957 Event NL approves Brooklyn Dodgers' and New York Giants' move to west coast 1957 Event South Africa government approves race separation in universities 1957 Event Georgia Senate unanimously approves Senator Leon Butts' bill barring blacks from playing baseball with whites 1954 Event AL approves Philadelphia A's move to Kansas City 1954 Event Postmaster General Summerfield approves CIA mail-opening project 1953 Event FCC approves RCA's black and white - compatible color TV specifications 1953 Event AL approves St. Louis Browns move to become Baltimore Orioles 1953 Event NL approves Boston Braves move to Milwaukee (1st shift since 1903) 1953 Event Georgia approves U.S. 1st literature censorship board 1952 Event American Bowling Congress approves use of an automatic pinsetter 1952 Event Puerto Rico approves their 1st self written constitution 1952 Event PGA approves allowing black participants 1950 Event President Truman approves building of hydrogen bomb 1948 Event U.N. General Assembly unanimously approves Convention on Genocide 1947 Event House of Representatives approves Taft-Hartley act 1947 Event General MacArthur approves Japanese constitution 1946 Event Baseball approves a 168-game schedule, but later rescinds it 1945 Event Senate approves U.S. participation in UN 1943 Event Baseball approves official ball (with cork and balata) 1941 Event FCC approves regular scheduled coml TV broadcasts to begin July 1 1939 Event Social Security Administration approves 1st unemployment check 1939 Event Connecticut finally approves Bill of Rights (148 years late) 1938 Event Congress approves Vinson Naval Act, which funds a two-ocean navy 1934 Event Congress approves "Lindbergh Act," makes kidnapping a capital offense 1932 Event NL, finally approves players wearing numbers 1930 Event Vatican approves rhythm method for birth control 1924 Event League of Nations approves protocols of Geneva 1919 Event Austria parliament approves 8-hour day 1919 Event Dutch 2nd chamber approves 8-hour day/No Sunday work 1919 Event Dutch 1st Chamber approves woman suffrage 1918 Event Congress authorizes time zones and approves daylight saving time 1916 Event Voters in East Cleveland approves women suffrage 1916 Event Norway approves active and passive female suffrage 1914 Event U.S. Congress approves Burnett-anti-immigration law 1912 Event Columbia University approves plans for awarding the Pulitzer Prize in several categories The award is established by Joseph Pulitzer 1911 Event Portugal approves woman suffrage 1898 Event San Francisco approves City Charter, allows Municipal ownership of utilities 1893 Event Senate approves repealing Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 1887 Event U.S. Senate approves naval base lease of Pearl Harbor 1870 Event California legislature approves act making Golden Gate Park possible 1867 Event Congress approves Lincoln Memorial 1865 Event Confederate congress approves final design of "official flag" 1864 Event Grant approves Sheridan's plan for Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1863 Event Abraham Lincoln approves charter for National Academy of Sciences 1863 Event Lincoln approves charter for National Academy of Sciences 1861 Event Jefferson Davis approves a bill declaring War between U.S. and Confederacy 1855 Event Congress approves $30,000 to test camels for military use 1836 Event Texas approves a constitution 1818 Event Congress approves 1st pensions for government service 1782 Event Congress approves Great Seal of U.S. and eagle as it's symbol 1776 Event Continental Congress approves enlistment of free blacks 1775 Event Continental Congress approves resolution barring blacks from army 1665 Event NY approves new code guaranteeing Protestants religious rights 1524 Event Pope Clement VII approves Organization of Jewish Community of Rome
