Civil rights law — what federal anti-discrimination laws cover

It barred discrimination in public places on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin, made discrimination in employment illegal, and provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities. Its Title VI bars discrimination on the ground of race, color or national origin in any program that receives federal money.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, created by the 1964 law, enforces the federal laws against job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status and sexual orientation), national origin, age 40 or older, disability or genetic information. They cover most employers with at least 15 employees, 20 in age cases.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 says no person may, on the basis of sex, be excluded from or discriminated against in any education program that receives federal money. The law itself lists exceptions, such as for some religious schools.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 bars discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, state and local government, public transit, businesses open to the public, commercial facilities and telecommunications. Several agencies enforce it: the EEOC for jobs, the Justice Department for governments and businesses, and others for transit and telecommunications.

Federal agencies take complaints and enforce the laws: the EEOC for employment, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division across the anti-discrimination laws, and other agencies for their own fields, such as transit and telecommunications under the ADA. Congress writes the laws; the agencies and the courts apply them.