Civil Rights Act of 1964
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| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | |
|---|---|
| Shorttitle | Civil Rights Act of 1964 |
| Longtitle | An act to enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes. |
| Enacted by | 88th |
| Effective date | July 2, 1964 |
| Cite public law | 88-352 |
| Introducedin | House |
| Introducedby | Emanuel Celler (D–NY) |
| Introduceddate | June 20, 1963 |
| Committees | House Judiciary |
| Passedbody1 | House |
| Passeddate1 | February 10, 1964 |
| Passedvote1 | 290–130 |
| Passedbody2 | Senate |
| Passeddate2 | June 19, 1964 |
| Passedvote2 | 73–27 |
| Passedbody3 | House |
| Passeddate3 | July 2, 1964 |
| Passedvote3 | 289–126 |
| Signedpresident | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Signeddate | July 2, 1964 |
Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, it was a direct response to the Civil Rights Movement and aimed to dismantle Jim Crow laws in the Southern United States. The act transformed American society by prohibiting segregation in public places and banning employment discrimination, establishing a powerful legal framework for equality.
Background and legislative history
The push for comprehensive civil rights legislation gained critical momentum following pivotal events like the Birmingham campaign and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The assassination of John F. Kennedy, who had proposed the bill, created a political climate where his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, made its passage a top priority. Legislative efforts were championed in the United States Congress by key figures such as Hubert Humphrey in the United States Senate and Emanuel Celler in the United States House of Representatives. Persistent advocacy by organizations like the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, alongside the moral authority of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., placed immense pressure on the federal government to act.
Major provisions
The act is organized into eleven titles, each targeting specific areas of discrimination. Title II outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, affecting hotels, restaurants, and theaters, and was later upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States. Title IV addressed the desegregation of public schools, while Title VI prohibited discrimination in programs receiving federal financial assistance. Perhaps its most far-reaching section, Title VII, established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Other titles strengthened voting rights and extended the life of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
Legislative process and passage
The bill faced fierce opposition, particularly from Democratic senators in the Southern United States led by Richard Russell Jr.. In the United States Senate, opponents launched the longest filibuster in the chamber's history at that time, lasting 60 days. To break the filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield and floor manager Hubert Humphrey crafted a bipartisan coalition with Republican leader Everett Dirksen. The cloture vote, a pivotal moment, required support from senators like Thomas Kuchel and Clair Engle, and was successfully invoked. The final version passed the Senate on June 19, 1964, and was subsequently adopted by the House.
Impact and legacy
The act immediately began dismantling legalized segregation across the American South, changing the landscape of public life. The creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provided a mechanism to challenge workplace discrimination, influencing corporate hiring practices nationwide. Judicial enforcement was swift, with the Supreme Court of the United States affirming its constitutionality in key cases like Katzenbach v. McClung. The law also served as a foundational model for subsequent anti-discrimination statutes, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Its passage marked a high point of the Civil Rights Movement and the Great Society agenda.
Subsequent amendments and related legislation
The core statute has been amended several times to expand its protections. The Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 strengthened the powers of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Civil Rights Act of 1991 modified Title VII, overturning several restrictive Supreme Court of the United States decisions and allowing for damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination. Other major laws built directly upon its framework, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. These legislative actions collectively have roots in the pioneering legal architecture established by this transformative act.
Category:1964 in American law Category:United States federal civil rights legislation Category:Lyndon B. Johnson