Which document outlines the legal framework for regulating monopolies?

The Sherman Antitrust Act is the comprehensive legal framework established to regulate monopolies and prevent anti-competitive practices in the United States. Enacted in 1890, this landmark legislation marked a significant step in the government's efforts to address the growing concerns about the power and influence of monopolies and trusts in American commerce. The Act prohibits contracts, combinations, or conspiracies that restrain trade or commerce among the states or with foreign nations. It also makes it illegal to monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, any part of interstate commerce.

This legislation paved the way for subsequent antitrust laws and is viewed as the foundation for antitrust policy in the United States, allowing the government to intervene in and dismantle monopolistic structures that harm competition and consumers. The significance of the Sherman Antitrust Act extends beyond its immediate effects, as it set a precedent for government regulation of business practices in pursuit of fair competition and consumer protection.