What are Civil Rights? The positive acts governments take to protect against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government or individuals.

Do transgender people need civil rights protections? 0 What happened in North Carolina?North Carolina 0 Can you compose a law that would grant civil rights to transgender citizens?

Why do we need civil rights? The 15 th Amendment Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Sample Literacy Test - Alabama 1. A United State senator elected in November take office the following year on what date? 2. The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to what? 3. The electoral vote for president is counted in the presence of what two bodies? 4. Of the 13 original states, the one with the most representation in Congress was which? 5. If the election of the president becomes the duty of the House, and it fails to act, who becomes president, and when? 6. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in what court? 7. If an effort to impeach the president of the United States is made, who presides at the trial? 8. When the Constitution was approved by the original colonies, how many states had to ratify it in order for it to be in effect? 9. Persons opposed to swearing an oath may say instead, “I solemnly ____?” 10. If it were proposed to join Alabama and Mississippi to form one state, what groups would have to vote approval for this to be done?

Sample Questions from a Literacy Test State of Louisiana One wrong answer denotes failure of the test. 1. Draw a line around the number or letter of this sentence. 2. Draw a line under the last word in this line. 3. Cross out the longest word in this line. 4. Draw a line around the shortest word in this line. 5. Circle the first, first letter of the alphabet in this line. 6. In the space below draw three circles, one inside the other. 7. Above the letter X make a small cross. 8. Draw a line through the letter below that comes earliest in the alphabet. ZVSEDGMKYTPHC 9. Draw a line through the letter below that comes last in the alphabet. ZVSEDGMKYTPHC 10. In the space below write the word noise backwards and place a dot over what would be its second letter should it have been written forward. 11. Give your age in days.

Civil Rights Amendments & Legislation Civil Rights 13 th 14 th 15 th 19 th Civil Rights Act Voting Rights Act 24 th ADA

The Civil War Amendments 0 Thirteenth Amendment: banned all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude 0 Fourteenth Amendment: guarantees equal protection of the laws and due process to all citizens 0 Fifteenth Amendment: specifically gives black men the right to vote Shortly after ratification the Southern states devised ways around these amendments by passing laws (Black Codes) that restricted opportunities for black Americans.

Women are Allowed to Vote 0 Coalition of women’s groups secured the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment (1920) guaranteeing all women the right to vote.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964: 0 Outlawed arbitrary discrimination in voter registration. 0 Barred discrimination in public accommodation. 0 Authorized the U.S. Justice Department to initiate lawsuits to desegregate schools and public facilities. 0 Allowed the federal government to withhold funds from discriminatory state and local programs. 0 Prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. 0 Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to monitor and enforce bans on employment discrimination.

1965 Voting Rights Act 0 The Act applied a nationwide prohibition against the denial or abridgment of the right to vote on the literacy tests on a nationwide basis. 0 It also contained special enforcement provisions targeted at those areas of the country where Congress believed the potential for discrimination to be the greatest.

24 th Amendment 0 “The right of citizens of the United States to vote (in federal elections), shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.”

Equal Rights Amendment 0 “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” ratification attempt came up three states short of the 38 needed. 0 Why?

Americans with Disabilities Act 0 Defined a disabled person as someone with a physical or mental impairment that limits “life activities.” 0 Guaranteed access to public facilities, employment and communication services. 0 Required employers and governments to make necessary adjustments.

Is there equality in America today? 0 Illegal immigrants 0 Gays and lesbians 0 Class Brainstorm: Can you create a bill that would eliminate discrimination against gays and lesbians?

Tomorrow’s assignment: What have the courts said? 0 Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) 0 Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954) 0 Brown II (1954) 0 Bakke v. California Board of Regents (1978)