Civil Rights Acts

Civil rights are the liberties citizens are entitled to within a particular jurisdiction. Civil rights can be written, implied, or derived from common law. When citizens deem certain rights to be inadequate or inequitably applied, civil rights movements have materialized as a way to redress such social wrongs. The United States has passed several civil rights acts. The Civil Rights Act of 1866, initially vetoed by President Johnson and subsequently affirmed by Congress, entitled all citizens, with the exception of Native Americans, to own property, enter into contractual agreements, and sue and testify in a court of law. The Civil Rights Act of 1871, also referred to as the Ku Klux Clan (KKK) Act, was passed to provide African Americans legal redress against abuses inflicted by the KKK. The most vital stipulation, 42 US Section 1983, allows individuals to sue state officials for constitutional torts. It is the most common type of suit brought by state inmates against state prison officials. The Civil Rights Act of 1875 gave everyone, regardless of race, equal treatment in public institutions. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 gave southern African Americans access to polling places. The Civil Rights Act of 1960 enhanced the 1957 Act by passing penalties for anyone who prevented someone from voting. Federal inspectors were deployed to ensure the integrity of the voting process. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the most important pieces of legislation in U.S. history, prevented any type of discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or country of origin. As a result, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was formed to address issues of discrimination in the public and private sectors. The Civil Rights Act of 1968, known as the Fair Housing Act, prevented discrimination in the selling and renting of dwellings. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 provided a jury trial for discrimination claims and provided a monetary remedy for emotional distress in such claims.