The government has made an effort since the administration of George Washington to protect consumers. The government finally took one of its largest steps during the administration of John F. Kennedy.

In 1963, President Kennedy sent this consumer message to Congress in the form of a "bill of rights."

The right to safety

• Consumers have a right to be protected from unsafe products.
• In 1972, the Consumers Products Safety Commission was created by Congress to "protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury from consumer products."

The right to be informed

• This has been interpreted to mean that consumers have the right to know exactly what they are buying, the terms of the sale and guarantees, and the risks that might accompany the use of the product.

The right to choose

• Federal and state governments have adopted antitrust legislation making it illegal to eliminate competition.
• This will help preserve our free enterprise system.

The right to be heard

• Businesses and government agencies recognize the need to hear complaints that are voiced by consumers.
• Departments are created to handle and respond to customer inquires and complaints.