Understanding Civil Rights
A civil right is an imposable right which when interfered by another gives rise to n action or injury. Some examples of civil rights include the freedom of speech, freedom from voluntarily servitude, assembly, press, the right to vote and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination takes place when the civil rights of a person are interfered or denied because of their membership or association with particular class or group. There have been enactments of statues to prevent discrimination on the basis of an individual’s religion, race, and earlier conditions of servitude, national origin, sex, age, physical limitation and in some cases sexual preference.
The enactment of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution in the United States was one of the most important expansions of civil rights. The thirteenth amendment abolishes slavery across the United States. The Fourteenth amendment was passed to make sure that no state “shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the United States . . . [or] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, [or] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Many of the statues from these two amendments are still followed to protect individuals from the deprivation and discrimination of their civil rights. One of the most important civil rights legislation ever since the Reconstruction is the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Through this Act Congress used its power to regulate interstate commerce.
One of the most important results of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the subsequent legislation is the creation of the strong legislative policy against favoritism in all colleges and public school. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits favoritism in all federally-funded programs and forbids employment discrimination where the company is involved in interstate commerce. It also prohibits various other acts of discrimination including the following:
- Americans with Disabilities
- Housing
- Public Accommodation and Facilities
- Rights of Institutionalized Persons
- Voting
Numerous other pieces of consequent legislation have been passed to re – enforce these civil areas.
The Supreme Court, apex court of the country plays a very important role in interpreting the extent of various civil rights. A single ruling of Supreme Court can change the very nature of a civil right through out the country. Decisions of Supreme Court can affect the manner in which the Congress passes legislation of civil rights, as happened with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The federal courts play a crucial role in mandating and supervising school desegregation programs including other programs established to correct local or state discrimination. The Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice is accountable for implementing the laws associated with civil rights passed by Congress.
Various declarations and agreements recognize these Civil rights and liberties. The United States adheres to one of the most prominent international agreement related with civil rights that is The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.