Is it time for one time zone?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time, a standard used to set all time zones around the world. So, for instance, New York City is in the time zone UTC minus five (UTC-5) , meaning that it is 5 hours earlier in NYC than the reading on a UTC clock. What is the UTC where you live?
Based on the visual above, how many time zones are in the continental United States?
Based on the visual above, how many time zones are in the continental United States and its territories?
Based on the visual above, how many states are in multiple time zones?
Which time zone has the most states in it?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a period of the year between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. DST begins on the second Sunday in March (just happened!) and ends on the first Sunday in November. The beginning and ending dates are set in statute (by federal law). How do you like Daylight Savings Time?
The United States established standard time zones and DST through the Calder Act, also known as the Standard Time Act of 1918. The issue of consistency in time observance was further clarified by the Uniform Time Act of 1966. These laws as amended allow a state to exempt itself—or parts of the state that lie within a different time zone—from DST observance. These laws as amended also authorize the Department of Transportation (DOT) to regulate standard time zone boundaries and DST. At least 45 states have considered or passed legislation to shift to permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time. In 2021, the Democratic controlled Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act - a bill that makes daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time, effective November 5, 2023. The Republican controlled House could pass the same bill. If you were a House member, explain whether you would vote for the Sunshine Protection Act?
States are allowed to exempt themselves from daylight saving time but cannot set their schedules to it permanently. As of 2022, only Arizona and Hawaii have exempted themselves from the time change. Federalism is a concept that allows different states to make different laws as long as they don’t violate national law or the Constitution. Do you believe that states should be able to make different laws about time?
The issue of Daylight Savings Time may not seem like it would be inherently political or economic. In fact, observation of Daylight Saving Time (DST) leads Americans to drive, shop, and golf more — which benefits the special interests of select billion-dollar industries, mainly retail, golf, tourism, oil, and candy. The petroleum industry noticed a connection between DST and consumer spending as early as 1930, and they’ve lobbied ever since to resurrect DST when it was abolished after World Wars I and II, and to extend its duration beyond just the summer months. The US Chamber of Commerce has also been a longtime promoter of DST, acting on behalf of convenience stores and retailers of outdoor products. The 1980s saw the formation of the National Daylight Saving Time Coalition, comprised of wealthy corporations from the industries of golf, candy, fast food, convenience stores, barbecue equipment, and amusement parks. The Coalition worked closely with legislators to extend DST’s duration (see video below).* It has been said that in today’s zero-sum game, everything is political. Make a claim about whether Daylight Savings Time is political.
Astrophysicist Richard Conn Henry and economist Steve Hanke argue that we should all adopt Universal Time (the time in London). That would make it the same time everywhere, regardless of the sun’s position in the sky. So rather than eating dinner here on the east coast of the United States at 6:03 p.m., I’d be eating dinner at 23:03 (11:03 pm UTC in London) . Then I’d watch Netflix, and hit the sack around, 3:00 (UTC time). When I awoke, it would be 13:00 or 1 pm (UTC time)—not just on the east coast, but everywhere. “Everyone would know exactly what time it is everywhere, at every moment,” the academics write in the January issue of Globe Asia, which they say would facilitate conference calls and business transactions. Should we adopt a single UTC?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Contact your U.S. House representative and let them know whether they should vote for the Sunshine Protection Act.
Get Creative
If Congress can change time, could they also use that same constitutional authority to change the length of a day, or the number of days in a week (I vote for 9!), or measures of weight (I would like to cut my weight by 10% please Congress!) and height (make me three meters tall please!)? If so, what creative way would you like for Congress to change the way we measure and define time or other measures?
Learn More
Listen to this short NPR story (below left) about the health hazards of changing our clocks. Watch this CSPAN video (below right) of a legislative hearing on Daylight Savings Time. And check out this interactive web mapping application containing U.S. time zone boundaries.