Bretton Woods Agreements Act (1945)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (22 U.S.C. §§ 286–286mm)

2) Why It Was Done
Enacted to approve U.S. participation in the Bretton Woods Conference agreements of 1944, which created the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The goal was to stabilize exchange rates, promote international trade, and rebuild the global economy after World War II.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before this Act, the U.S. had no formal role in a permanent international monetary system. The Constitution gave Congress authority over money and treaties, but this Act delegated substantial power to the executive branch in international finance.