American Discrimination Laws

Antidiscrimination laws protect racial minorities, women and disabled people.

The cornerstone of U.S. antidiscrimination legislation stemmed from the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Since that time in history, the U.S. Congress has passed legislation banning discrimination in employment, housing, lodging, voting and leisure activities. Each piece of legislation has addressed different groups that faced discriminatory practices, including African Americans, ethnic and racial minorities, women and people with disabilities. While certain bills introduced new antidiscrimination protections, others strengthened or broadened existing legislation.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 addressed discrimination in employment, voting, housing and accommodation within public interstate commerce. The law sought to correct discriminatory practices imposed on minorities, specifically African American citizens. The law bans discrimination based on national origin, race, sex, color and religion. Provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to the desegregation of public schools. The legislation makes it illegal to impose unequal requirements for voter registration and outlaws the barring of minorities from accommodation in restaurants, theaters and hotels. The legislation also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which serves to enforce provisions of the law in the workplace.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1967. The law sought to abolish discriminatory practices that targeted ethnic minorities and women in the workplace. The law prohibits discrimination in the hiring or discharge of people over the age of 40, based on their age. The ADEA provides age discrimination protections for health insurance benefits, pay and work conditions. Provisions of the ADEA apply to corporations, local and state governments, employment agencies, individual employers and labor organizations.

Americans With Disabilities Act

President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990, which bans discrimination in employment based on an individual's disability. The law covers individuals with mental and physical impairments that limit their activities. The ADA provides protections for employees of local and state governments, employment agencies, private companies and members of labor unions. The ADA also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation for disabled workers. Examples of reasonable accommodations can include: the installation of ramps at workplaces for employees with mobility disabilities, the modification of examinations for visually impaired workers or the modification of job-related equipment to enable use by disabled employees.

Civil Rights Act of 1991

In 1991 the U.S. Congress passed new employment discrimination legislation, known as the Civil Rights Act of 1991. The law addresses issues that arose from Supreme Court rulings made after the enactment of previous civil rights legislation. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 added new provisions to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, allowing plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases to have their cases heard before a jury. The legislation also allows plaintiffs to seek punitive and compensatory damages, up to a limit of $300,000. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 also extended protections to political appointees and employees of the U.S. Congress. Additional provisions require American employers to comply with provisions of the ADA in their overseas operations.

References

• National Archives: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• The Dirksen Congressional Center: Major Features of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
• USLegal: Age Discrimination in Employment Act Law and Legal Definition
• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Facts About the Americans With Disabilities Act
• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: The Civil Rights Act of 1991

Resources

• University of California Berkeley: Prepare to Avoid Trouble Under the Civil ... ; John C. Cook