Federal law, straight from the source

35 U.S.C. § 271

Patent infringement

Defines the acts — making, using, selling, importing — that infringe a patent.

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42 U.S.C. § 12112

ADA — employment

Requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations and bars disability discrimination in hiring and on the job.

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42 U.S.C. § 1981

Equal rights under the law

Guarantees everyone the same right to make and enforce contracts regardless of race.

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42 U.S.C. § 1983

Civil action for deprivation of rights

Lets you sue state and local officials who violate your constitutional rights while acting under color of law.

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42 U.S.C. § 1985

Conspiracy to interfere with civil rights

Creates liability when two or more people conspire to deprive someone of equal protection of the laws.

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42 U.S.C. § 1988

Attorney's fees in civil rights cases

Allows prevailing parties in many civil-rights suits to recover their attorney's fees.

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42 U.S.C. § 2000a

Public accommodations

Bans discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in hotels, restaurants, and theaters.

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42 U.S.C. § 2000d

Federally funded programs

Bars discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program that receives federal funding.

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42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Employment discrimination

Bans workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

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42 U.S.C. § 3604

Fair Housing Act

Bans discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on protected characteristics.

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42 U.S.C. § 4321

Environmental review

Requires federal agencies to study the environmental impact of major actions before proceeding.

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42 U.S.C. § 4852

Lead paint disclosure

Requires sellers and landlords of older homes to disclose known lead-based paint hazards.

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42 U.S.C. § 7401

Clean Air Act

The framework for federal regulation of air pollution from industry and vehicles.

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42 U.S.C. § 9601

Superfund

Makes parties responsible for cleaning up hazardous-waste contamination.

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47 U.S.C. § 227

Robocalls & texts

Restricts automated calls and texts and created the framework behind the Do-Not-Call rules.

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52 U.S.C. § 10301

Voting Rights Act, Section 2

Prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority.

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