Civil Rights

Share |

Overview

What are civil rights?

Civil rights provide basic freedoms to individuals and seek to achieve the equal enjoyment of rights and privileges. Civil rights manifest in various forms. One civil right is the entitlement to equal treatment, or equal protection of law, regardless of an individual's membership in a protected category. This civil right covers protection from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, age, and disability, among other things. Civil rights also include various personal freedoms, such as the right to privacy, to free speech, to vote, to partake in political action, and to peacefully protest. Additionally, civil rights encompass the right to receive due process and, for those suspected of a crime, to receive a fair investigation and trial.

Civil rights overlap with civil liberties. Civil liberties can, however, be distinguished from civil rights in that civil liberties largely encompass those rights which protect against the infringement by government upon personal freedoms, such as the right to religious freedom and the freedom of speech.

Featured CasesSubscribe

DocketsSubscribe

LegislationSubscribe

  • Bill Enacted: H.R.2112 Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2012

    An act making consolidated appropriations for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes.
    November 17, 2011: Became Public Law No: 112-55.
  • Bill Enacted: H.R.2847 HIRE Act

    Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
    March 17, 2010: Became Public Law No: 111-147.

RegulationsSubscribe

  • Proposed Rule - Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under Title VII, the ADA, and GINA

    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    Proposed Rule
    Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under Title VII, the ADA, and GINA
    ,
    31892-31895 [2011-13629]
    EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 29 CFR Part 1602 RIN 3046-AA89 Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements Under Title VII, the ADA, and GINA AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``EEOC'' or ``Commission'') proposes to extend its existing recordkeeping requirements under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to entities... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF
  • Rule - Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended

    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    Rule
    Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended
    ,
    16978-17017 [2011-6056]
    Vol. 76 Friday, No. 58 March 25, 2011 Part III Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 29 CFR Part 1630 Regulations To Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, as Amended; Final Rule EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 29 CFR Part 1630 RIN 3046-AA85 Regulations To Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, as Amended AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). ACTION: Final Rule. SUMMARY: The Equal... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF
  • Rule - Regulations under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    Rule
    Regulations under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
    ,
    68912-68939 [2010-28011]
    Part III Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 29 CFR Part 1635 Regulations Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; Final Rule EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 29 CFR Part 1635 RIN [3046--AA84] Regulations Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``EEOC'' or ``Commission'') is issuing a final rule to implement Title II of the... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF
  • Proposed Rule - Definition of Reasonable Factors Other than Age Under the Age Discrimination in ...

    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    Proposed Rule
    Definition of Reasonable Factors Other than Age Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    ,
    7212-7218 [2010-3126]
    EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 29 CFR Part 1625 RIN 3046-AA87 Definition of ``Reasonable Factors Other Than Age'' Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``EEOC'' or ``Commission'') is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NPRM'') to address the meaning of ``reasonable factors other than age'' (RFOA) under the Age Discrimination in... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF
  • Proposed Rule - Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity

    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    Proposed Rule
    Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity
    ,
    67839-67844 [E9-30162]
    EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 29 CFR Part 1614 RIN Number 3046-AA73 Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is proposing revisions to its federal sector complaint processing regulations. These proposals implement recommendations of the Commissioners' Federal Sector Workgroup. DATES: Comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking must be... [read document]
    View Document | Download PDF

ArticlesSubscribe