Which term is a federal law prohibiting discrimination in employment and other areas based on race, sex, religion, color, or national origin?

• A. A court-approved agreement requiring an organization to change practices to resolve legal violations.
• B. De facto discrimination
• C. Affirmative action
• D. Civil Rights Act of 1964

Answer: (D)

The main idea is a federal law that bans discrimination in employment and other areas based on protected characteristics like race, sex, religion, color, or national origin. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is that law. Its employment portion, Title VII, prevents employers with 15 or more employees (and also protects against discrimination by labor unions and employment agencies) from making hiring, firing, pay, or other terms and conditions of work different for people because of those protected characteristics. It also establishes that retaliation against someone who opposes discrimination or participates in investigations is illegal and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce these protections. Beyond employment, the Act also targets discrimination in education, public accommodations, and voting, giving it broad civil rights protections. The other terms mentioned describe a court-ordered remedy, discrimination that happens in practice, or proactive diversity policies, none of which capture the federal prohibition described here.