Comstock Act

The Comstock Act established the broad power of the federal government to regulate information or materials viewed as “obscene” or “immoral.” Since there is no specific list of what makes something obscene or immoral, the law was interpreted and enforced very broadly. The power to enforce the Comstock Act fell under the umbrella of the U.S. Postal Service. Anything deemed obscene that was sent through the postal system—or was even intended to be mailed—could result in a substantial prison sentence or fine for the person who mailed it (or intended to do so). What are generally called the “Comstock laws” include the original Comstock Act plus the many similar state laws that followed.