The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co., 392 U.S. 409 (1968) Case Summary of Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co.: A real estate company refused to sell a home to an African-American man, Jones, because he was African-American. Jones sued in federal court, alleging a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1982. The lower courts denied […]
Read moreConstitutional rights refer to the rights granted to citizens by the Constitution of the United States. These rights, set forth in the first 10 Amendments, are known as the “Bill of Rights.“ An example of Constitutional Rights is a person’s freedom of speech or a person’s right to bear arms. To explore this concept, consider the following constitutional rights definition. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, 402 U.S. 1 (1971) Case Summary of Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education: Having implemented a desegregation plan, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system still had de facto segregation, with many African-American students still attending many schools that were at least 99% African-American. Petitioner Swann sued, and the District Court […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States, 379 U.S. 241 (1964). Case Summary of Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States: A large motel in Atlanta refused to serve African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits racial discrimination in places of public accommodation The motel owner challenged the Civil Rights Act […]
Read moreThe Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise reached between the northern and southern states of the U.S. in 1787. The compromise was reached during a debate over whether or not slaves should be counted when a state was determining its total number of residents for legislative and tax purposes. If they were to be counted, then the next issue was to […]
Read moreFreedom of speech is a person’s right to speak his or her own opinions, beliefs, or ideas, without having to fear that the government will retaliate against him, restrict him, or censor him in any way. The term “freedom of expression” is often used interchangeably, though the “expression” in this sense has more to do with the way in which […]
Read moreThe term civil rights refers to the basic rights afforded, by laws of the government, to every person, regardless of race, nationality, color, gender, age, religion, or disability. This refers to such rights as equal citizenship, equal protection under the law, and due process. Civil rights differ subtly from civil liberties, in that they deal with rights granted by the […]
Read moreCivil liberties are freedoms due every individual, just based on the fact that they are human beings. The Declaration of Independence asserts the creed of the American people, as it declares that all men are endowed with certain inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Civil liberties are not gifted by governmental action, as they are […]
Read moreThe Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) was signed into law, filling gaps in existing civil rights law. The ADA goes beyond the protections afforded by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, religion, and other personal characteristics. The ADA also requires certain locales and entities to make their facilities accessible […]
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