Civil rights generally refers to the law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or religion. Discrimination occurs when a person’s rights are denied or interfered with on the basis of their membership in such a particular group or class.

Civil rights are distinct from civil liberties, such as the right to vote, freedom of speech, and other rights in the Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution).

Civil rights law includes the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Twenty-Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution—and federal statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

In Iowa, civil rights are protected under both federal and state laws. Federally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968, along with the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Twenty-Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, provide broad protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and other factors. These laws make it illegal to discriminate in various areas, including employment, education, housing, and voting. At the state level, the Iowa Civil Rights Act (Iowa Code Chapter 216) mirrors many of these protections and prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, education, and credit practices. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission is the state agency responsible for enforcing these laws and addressing complaints of discrimination. It is important for individuals in Iowa to understand that they have the right to be free from discrimination in many aspects of public life and that there are legal avenues available to address violations of these rights.