Below is an alphabetical list of federal laws pertaining to civil rights and discrimination. Additional laws may exist on the state or local levels.

 

This law prohibits discrimination based on age in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.

 

-Age Discrimination in Employment Act:
This law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and/or applicants who are 40 years of age and older, based upon their age.

 

-Air Carrier Access Act of 1986:
This law prohibits air carriers from discriminating against disabled individuals, with regard to the provision of and access to flights.

 

-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
This law provides protection for disabled persons from discrimination in work, school, or public accommodations. 

 

- Architectural Barriers Act of 1968:
This law requires that buildings and facilities designed, constructed, altered, or leased with certain federal funds after September 1969 must be accessible to and useable by handicapped persons.

 

Civil Rights Act of 1964: Title VII (Equal Employment Opportunities):
This law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

 

-Civil Rights Act of 1991 (Intentional Employment Discrimination):
This law amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in order to strengthen and improve Federal civil rights protection. It provides for damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination as well as clarifying provisions regarding disparate impact actions. 

 

-Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act:
This law protects individuals in institutions (such as nursing homes and prisons) from unconstitutional conditions.

 

-Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act:
This law mandates equitable and impartial relief operations, that is, relief without discrimination based on race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, or economic status.

 

-The Equal Credit Opportunity Act:
This law prohibits discrimination against credit applicants based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because an applicant receives income from a public assistance program.

 

-Equal Pay Act of 1963:
This law mandates equal pay for equal work, to all employees, regardless of whether the employees are male or female.

 

-Fair Housing Act:
This law prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and/or financing of housing based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.

 

-Family and Medical Leave Act:
This law provides employees with the right to take time off from work in order to care for a newborn (or recently adopted) child, and to look after ill family members.

 

-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:
This law provides disabled students with protection and ensures that all children with disabilities have a free appropriate public education available to them.

 

-National Voter Registration Act:
This law provides procedures designed to increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for national office.

 

-Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act:
This law provides clarification regarding the protections given to older individuals and their employee benefit plans.

 

-Pregnancy Discrimination Act:
This law prohibits discrimination in the workplace against female employees who are (or intend to become) pregnant. This includes but is not limited to discrimination in hiring, failure to promote, and wrongful termination.

 

-Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
This law protects disabled individuals from discrimination by employers and organizations that receive federal financial assistance.

 

-Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act:
This law protect persons, houses of worship, and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws. It also protects the religious exercise of inmates and other individuals confined to certain institutions.

 

-Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972:
This law prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs that receive federal funds. IT also increases educational and athletic opportunities for females in schools and colleges nationwide.

 

-U.S. Code Title 42, Chapter 21 -- Civil Rights:
This law prohibits discrimination against persons based on age, disability, gender, race, national origin, and religion (among other things) in a number of settings -- including education, employment, access to businesses and buildings, federal services, and more. Chapter 21 contains many of the codified acts, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.