Civil Rights and Discrimination A to Z

Civil rights and discrimination in the United States revolve around stopping biased treatment and safeguarding equal opportunities for all people. Civil rights protect people from unfair treatment in many areas, including:

• Employment
• Housing
• Health care
• Religion
• Voting
• Public accommodations

Civil rights refers to the effort to advance a person's access to equal opportunities regardless of:

• Race
• Color
• Age
• Disability
• Other specific protected characteristics

Civil rights laws safeguard people against discrimination. Through constitutional amendments and federal laws, the federal government ensures protection against discrimination based on various factors, such as sex, race, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, marital status, and disabilities. Civil rights laws stem from federal legislation and include laws such as:

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Fair Housing Act (FHA)
• Equal Pay Act of 1963
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA)

These variations of laws address wage disparities, combat age-related biases, ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, and promote gender equality in education programs.

The Civil Rights Act of 1991 reinforces these protections and empowers the attorney general to take action to ensure nondiscrimination.

One of the most important legislative landmarks is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII formed the foundation of efforts to combat discrimination on the basis of race and the basis of sex.

Court decisions, especially the decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, have also developed civil rights on the federal level.

Federal agencies partner to enforce these regulations nationwide. These agencies include:

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division
• Office for Civil Rights

Discrimination happens in various forms and can strike in many ways, depending on the situation. The federal government offers technical assistance to states and organizations striving to end discriminatory practices. Different laws address the needs of these various discrimination types. While these laws establish a solid foundation, some exceptions exist, such as "undue hardship." Undue hardship allows limited accommodations if the accommodations would impose an excessive burden.

Below are links to information and resources on the different areas of civil rights laws. Explore the links to learn more about your rights, the types of prohibited discrimination, and what to do if you have been the victim of discrimination.

Typically, we associate discrimination and civil rights violations with familiar groups of protected classes based on race, gender, disability, religion, and national origin. Discrimination greatly affects these groups. As you can see from this reference list, a person can quickly transition into a protected status depending on their situation and the protection of the civil rights laws available to them.

Preserve Your Civil Rights With an Attorney's Help

Has someone on your job mistreated you because of your religion or national origin? Are you applying for credit and are getting denied because you get help from federally assisted programs? Because there are so many forms of discrimination, it is difficult to determine if someone violated your civil rights. Help preserve them by talking to an attorney familiar with discrimination law.