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.