Goldwater-Nichols Act: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 (PL 99-433) was a reorganization plan which increased the power of the different services in the United States Department of Defense. It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 383-27 and the Senate by a vote of 95-0. It was signed into law by President Reagan on October 1, 1986. The bill is named after Senator Barry Goldwater and Representative Bill Nichols.