What Are Your Civil Rights?

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Your civil rights guard against things such as discrimination and police misconduct and are guaranteed by state and federal law, including:

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• The U.S. Constitution

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The U.S. Constitution protects various individual rights. For example, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and provides protection against retaliation by government officials—including police officers and government employers. The Fourth Amendment protects against illegal searches and seizures and police brutality—including cases involving unlawful arrest and wrongful death. The Eighth Amendment bars cruel and unusual punishment. And the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments have provisions regarding "equal protection" and "due process of law" that prohibit discriminatory laws, the discriminatory enforcement of laws, unconstitutional takings, and other conduct by government actors in a variety of contexts. 

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• State and Federal Statutes

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A number of state and federal statutes guarantee certain civil rights. For example, both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibit government and various other entities from unlawfully discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. Additional laws bar other kinds of discrimination, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act's prohibition on irrational discrimination based on disability and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act regarding age. There are also civil rights laws that go beyond discrimination—such as the Family Medical Leave Act, which ensures that many employees have time off of work to care for themselves and their family members. While some civil rights statutes apply in specific settings, such as employment, others are more broad and may also apply to education, housing, places of public accommodation, and more.​