{"id":355610,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/where-do-civil-rights-come-from.html"},"modified":"2023-10-09T11:17:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T16:17:40","slug":"where-do-civil-rights-come-from","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/where-do-civil-rights-come-from.html","title":{"rendered":"Where Do Civil Rights Come From?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Where Do Civil Rights Come From?<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Civil rights usually arise from laws, legislation, and case law prohibiting discrimination<\/a> and protecting your constitutional rights. There are many legal definitions of discriminatory acts. These originate at the federal level through federal legislation or court decisions.<\/p>\r\n

Examples of federal legislation are the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990<\/a> (ADA). Other federal acts, supplemented by court decisions, prohibit discrimination in:<\/p>\r\n