SEC Celebrates 85 Years of Investor Protection, Capital Formation and Market Oversight

The SEC has been protecting investors, facilitating capital formation and maintaining fair, orderly and efficient markets since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Securities Exchange Act into law on June 6, 1934.

In observance of the SEC’s 85th anniversary, SEC staff recently were privileged to have the chance to see, in person, the actual document signed by FDR to create the agency.

The SEC’s opportunity to display the Exchange Act at its Washington, D.C. headquarters was made possible by the National Archives and Records Administration, which preserves historic and important government documents including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Chairman Clayton thanked the Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and National Archives staff for their support in bringing the Securities Exchange Act to SEC headquarters for the first time since 1984.

“This document created the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and gave us broad authority over all aspects of the securities industry,” said SEC Chairman Jay Clayton in remarks to SEC staff. “Our markets have undoubtedly evolved in the 85 years since our founding, but we’ve always stayed true to our mission”

Following Chairman Clayton’s remarks, several past SEC Chairmen and Commissioners joined current and former SEC staff in filing past the historic document and viewing it up close.