Peace Corps Act Law and Legal Definition
Peace Corps Act of 1961 is a law that established the Peace Corps, an agency in the U.S. Department of State that trains and sends American volunteers abroad to work with people of developing countries on projects for technological, agricultural, and educational improvement.
The Peace Corps was established to promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the U.S. qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower, particularly in meeting the basic needs of those living in the poorest areas of such countries, and to help promote a better understanding of the American people on the part of the peoples served and a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people. The Secretary of State is responsible for continuous supervision and general direction of programs authorized by the act.
