Overview of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964
Title VI, 42 U.S.C. ยง 2000d et seq., was enacted as part
of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial
assistance. As President John F. Kennedy said in 1963:
Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors,
and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages,
entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination.
If a recipient of federal assistance is found to have discriminated and voluntary
compliance cannot be achieved, the federal agency providing the assistance should either
initiate fund termination proceedings or refer the matter to the Department of Justice for
appropriate legal action. Aggrieved individuals may file administrative complaints with
the federal agency that provides funds to a recipient, or the individuals may file suit
for appropriate relief in federal court. Title VI itself prohibits intentional
discrimination. However, most funding agencies have regulations implementing Title VI that
prohibit recipient practices that have the effect of discrimination on the basis of race,
color, or national origin.
To assist federal agencies that provide financial assistance, the wide variety of
recipients that receive such assistance, and the actual and potential beneficiaries of
programs receiving federal assistance, the U.S. Department of Justice has published a Title
VI Legal Manual. The Title VI Legal Manual sets out Title VI legal principles
and standards. Additionally, the Department has published an Investigation Procedures
Manual to give practical advice on how to investigate Title VI complaints. Also
available on the Coordination and Review Website are a host of other materials that may be
helpful to those interested in ensuring effective enforcement of Title VI.
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