Federal Civil Rights Laws

Chapter 21 Section 3

Question

• As a Ten year old you bullied someone every day causing that kid great torment. Then you saw that person today and apologized profusely for your bullying.

• How would you make up for past abuses if you had affected millions of people, not just one person?

Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Outlaws discrimination in a number of areas.• No person denied public accommodations

• Prohibits discrimination in any program that receives any federal funding

• Forbid employers to discriminate in job related matters

Civil Rights Act of 1968

• Open Housing Act• Forbids anyone to refuse to sell or rent a home on basis of sex,

race, color, religion

• Forbids refusal to sell or rent to a family with children

Affirmative Action

• A policy that requires that most employers take positive steps to remedy the effects of past discrimination • Applies to all agency in the Federal, State, and local govts

• Ex. Private business must adopt a plan designed to make its work force reflect the general makeup of the population in its locale

• Includes steps to correct or prevent inequalities like pay, promotions

• Leads to many employers having quotas to meet.

Bakke Case

• U of California v. Bakke ,1978• Bakke, white male denied admission to the medical school.

• School set aside 16 out of 100 non white seats

• Bakke sued charging university with reverse discrimination violation of the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause

• 5-4 Ruling in favor of Bakke

Affirmative Action on the Ballot

• 1996 California’s voters approved of an initiative to eliminate affirmative action• It forbids all Sate and local agencies to discriminate against

people or give preferential treatment to any person or group.

• Federal district ruled unconstitutional in late 1996

• Court of Appeals overturned decision

• Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal