Civil Rights FAQs
What are civil rights?
Civil rights are rights guaranteed and protected by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws enacted by Congress. These laws:
- Prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin (incl. shared ancestry) in programs and activities receiving federal funds (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
- Protect employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
- Prohibit discrimination based on sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity receiving federal funds (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
- Prohibit discrimination based on disability in entities receiving federal funds (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
- Prohibit discrimination based on disability in State and local government services (Title II of the ADA of 1990)