Voting Rights Act of 1965

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was enacted to enforce the 15th Amendment, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It responded to widespread voter suppression, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The 15th Amendment (1870) banned racial discrimination in voting, but enforcement was weak. States, especially in the South, used Jim Crow laws to suppress minority votes. The Act gave federal government direct enforcement power.

Acts

Fair Housing Act

Fair Housing Act (1968)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
Enacted just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Act was designed to end discrimination in housing, addressing systemic barriers to home ownership and rental opportunities for minorities.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and employment, it did not cover housing. Housing segregation remained deeply entrenched nationwide.

Acts

Civil Rights Act of 1991

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (Public Law 102–166)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to strengthen and expand federal civil rights laws, particularly in response to Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed protections against employment discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 established foundational protections. However, Supreme Court rulings in the 1980s (e.g., Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Atonio, 1989) limited plaintiffs’ ability to prove discrimination, prompting congressional action.