Civil Rights
Constitutional rights and protections
Related Laws & Statutes
Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Title VII: Equal Employment Opportunity
Employers cannot discriminate against workers or job applicants based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This applies to hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, and all other terms of employment.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public places, transportation, and telecommunications. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations, and public buildings must be accessible.
Texas Heartbeat Act (SB 8)
Texas prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected (approximately 6 weeks of pregnancy). The law is enforced through private civil lawsuits rather than government action.
Parental Rights in Education (HB 1557)
Florida prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through 3rd grade, and restricts such instruction in other grades to what is deemed 'age-appropriate' by state standards.
SAFE-T Act – Pretrial Fairness Act (Cash Bail Elimination)
Illinois eliminated cash bail. Instead of paying money to get out of jail before trial, judges now decide whether to detain or release defendants based on the risk they pose to public safety and their likelihood of appearing in court.
Related Cases
Brown v. Board of Education
347 U.S. 483 (1954)
The Supreme Court unanimously held that racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote: 'In the field of public education, the doctrine of separate but equal has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'
Miranda v. Arizona
384 U.S. 436 (1966)
The Court held that the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination requires law enforcement to advise suspects of their rights before custodial interrogation. These rights include the right to remain silent, that anything said can be used against them in court, the right to an attorney, and that if they cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed.
Roe v. Wade
410 U.S. 113 (1973)
The Court held that a woman's right to an abortion was protected by the right to privacy under the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision was later overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022).
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
597 U.S. 215 (2022)
The Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, overruling Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). The authority to regulate abortion was returned to the states.
Obergefell v. Hodges
576 U.S. 644 (2015)
The Supreme Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires all states to grant same-sex marriages and recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states. The Court found that the right to marry is a fundamental liberty.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
558 U.S. 310 (2010)
The Court held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures for political communications by corporations, including nonprofit corporations, labor unions, and other associations.
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