Civil Rights Act of 1991

Signed into law by George H. W. Bush
November 21, 1991

This law was passed as an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, largely in response to a number of important court decisions interpreting the act. In particular, the law expanded the claims available to plaintiffs under 42 USC § 1981 for race discrimination, and allowed for more expansive approaches to damages. The act provided more remedies for those who were the victims of employers where discrimination was more subtle, such as through a policy that is not discriminatory on its face, but has a disparate impact on certain groups.

Enforcement & Remedies

The Civil Rights Act of 1991 allows for Title VII discrimination claims to go before a jury. Most discrimination claims proceed before the EEOC before they are considered before a federal district court or relevant state court.