Hart-Scott-Rodino Act

Federal antitrust legislation that requires an automatic review of planned merger agreements if the size of the deal is over $50 million. That size will adjust beginning in fiscal 2005 (October 2004) to reflect changes in the gross national product from the previous year. The act was passed in 1976 and gives power to both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review merger agreements in order to prevent potential anti-competitive harm to individuals and businesses.