Loyalty Review Board

Definition

A board established under President Truman that investigated government employees and dismissed those who were found to be disloyal to the U.S. government.

Analogy

The Loyalty Review Board is like a school's honor council, but instead of checking for academic dishonesty, they're checking for loyalty to the U.S. government.

Related terms

Executive Order 9835: Also known as "Truman's Loyalty Order," it established the first general loyalty program in the United States, designed to root out communist influence in the U.S. federal government.

Federal Employee Loyalty Program: A policy initiated by President Truman that aimed at eliminating potential disloyal elements from within federal agencies.

Smith Act: A law passed in 1940 making it a criminal offense to advocate the violent overthrow of the government or to organize or be a member of any group or society devoted to such advocacy.