Civil rights and you

United States v. Virginia (1995)

Virginia Military Institute: SCOTUS ruled they violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause by excluding women

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act of 2010

Allows people part of the LGBTQIA+ community to express their sexual orientation while in the army

Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)

American-born, Japanese ancestry, grew up in San Francisco.  To avoid incarceration, he moved, changed his name, had surgery, claimed to be Mexican-American. Court applied “Strict Scrutiny” but upheld the law as Constitutional.

Quid Pro Quo

“this for that” ex: promotion for sexual favors

Substantial Relationship (Intermediate) Test

Laws that classify based on gender must show a close connection between the law and its purpose & it must serve an important government interest.

Affirmative Action

Taking steps to remedy past discrimination and current inequality in employment and education.

Civil Rights Acts of 1964

Protections for racial minorities against discrimination in public accommodations, employment, etc.

Lyndon B Johnson & "The Great Society”

passed more legislation than any President in history.

Gerrymandering

To manipulate boundaries of a(n) so as to favor one party or class.

Hostile Environment

Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is so severe that it changes the conditions of employment.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Bans discrimination against those with disabilities.

James Meredith

African- American Air Force veteran denied admission twice to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) because of his race (1962)

NAACP

Founded in 1909; Largest civil rights organization in the U.S.; Legal Defense Fund 1939- Constitutional litigation strategy to combat discrimination, segregation, and racial violence.

Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972

Prohibits gender discrimination in most school activities, including curriculum, faculty hiring, and student athletics.

Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)

Advanced degrees (Law School) can use race as a factor because it serves a "compelling interest in achieving diversity among its student body.

Freedom Summer

movement to help and encourage African- Americans to vote in Mississippi- A very bloody, and brutal affair.

Mississippi Three

The Deaths of 3 Civil Rights Workers during Freedom Summer.

Strict Scrutiny Test

If the classification of one group is based on race, national origin, or citizenship status…or if it abridges a fundamental right (such as religion) then must serve a compelling interest and be "narrowly tailored "to achieve that specific interest or it will be found unconstitutional.

Rational Basis Test

court seek to determine whether a law is "rationally related "to a "legitimate government interest ..

Quotas

Requiring a certain number (or a percentage) of a student- body or a workforce must come from a specific race.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

Can not discriminate based on age (except if necessary qualification of the job)

13th admendment

Abolished Slavery

14th admendment

All persons born in the U.S. declared citizens (undoing Dred Scott), granted "equal protection" of the laws and "due process" if being denied life, liberty, or property by the state…

15th admendment

Black male suffrage

Civil Rights Act of 1875

A law that gave "Full and equal enjoyment" of many public spaces & forbid discrimination in hotels, trains, etc, It was the last civil rights bill to be signed into law by the federal government until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during the Civil Rights Movement

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

"Separate, but equal."

Jim Crow Laws

Laws passed to encourage racial segregation directed against blacks at the end of the 19th century

19th Amendment (1919)

Womens Suffrage

Executive Order 9981 in (1948)

Desegregated the military

Sweatt v. Painter (1950)

Sweatt denied acceptance to University of Texas Law School because of his race

Hernandez v. Texas (1953)

ended discrimination in jury selection

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

desegregated schools; Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson & "separate but equal"

Earl Warren & "The Warren Court"

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Chief Justice of SCOTUS from 1953-1969. Best known for the liberal decisions of the Warren Court, which outlawed segregation in public schools and transformed many areas of American law,

Thurgood Marshall

1st African-American Supreme Court Justice

Equal Pay Act of 1963

requires equal pay for equal work, regardless of sex

Civil Rights Acts of 1964

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Women could not be denied access to credit because of gender (like for a credit card or a loan). Prior to this time, women had to have husband sign for credit & unmarried women had difficulty securing any credit. 

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964)

Court applied Commerce Clause to regulate morally wrong activities that affected commerce

US v. Price (1966)

SCOTUS ruled Congress has the right to enforce, "every right guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment." Opened door for federal government to seek justice when the local authorities in the Deep South refused to do so

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Supreme Court strikes down anti-miscegenation laws

Fair Housing Act of 1968

Forbids discrimination in the leasing, selling, or financing of housing based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disabilities

Steering

directing prospective buyers or renters to particular areas because of race or some other factor (is illegal)

Sexual Harassment

unwelcome sexual advances, requests for favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which takes place in the workplace

Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1977)

“Reverse discrimination” case. Court ruled 5-4 against Racial Quotas, but race can be one of the factors considered for admissions (can be considered a “plus”)

Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)

Undergraduate Schools using race as a factor – court stated the school did not give enough consideration to individual qualities & wasn’t “narrowly tailored”

Schuette, Attorney General of Michigan v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (2013)

Michigan passed an amendment to the states Constitution to prohibit all sex-based and race-based preferences in public education, public employment, and public contracting

Fisher v. University of Texas 2012

Court held that the University of Texas use of race as a factor in the holistic review used to fill the spots remaining after the Top Ten Percent Plan was narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, public accommodations

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1991

Requires states to provide free and appropriate education to children with special needs in the least restrictive environment

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993

If employed for 12 months+, entitled to 12 weeks (unpaid) leave & will be returned to the same position upon return

U.S. v. Windsor (2012)

Couples with same-sex marriages that are valid under state laws, should not be deprived of federal recognition

Obergefell v. Hodges (2014)

Recognition of same-sex marriage as a protected fundamental right

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Opinion of the Court:  Slaves were not considered citizens...slaves were considered property

Civil Rights Cases 1882

Declared portions of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional - Court held the Equal Protection Clause within the 14th Amendment prohibits discrimination by the state and local government, but it does not give the federal government the power to prohibit discrimination by private individuals and organizations.