Research Resources
On this page you will see information pertaining to the following subjects: Core Laws & Regulations, Federal Civil Rights Agencies and Programs, Organizations & Associations, Article Databases, News Sources, Wikis and Civil Rights Libraries.
Core Laws & Regulations
The Core Laws and Regulations portion of the Civil Rights Learning Center (CRLC) Research page provides access to the DOCR Library which houses the United States Codes, Codes of Federal Regulations, and Public Laws that affect the Department of Transportation and the programs administered by the Departmental Office of Civil Rights.
Federal Civil Rights Agencies and Programs
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Civil Rights Division
Federal Interagency Working Group - Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service
Interagency Committee on Disability Research
National Council on Disability
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
U.S. Department of Justice - ADA Home Page
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Labor, Civil Rights Center
U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Disability Employment Policy
U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Environmental Justice
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
Organizations & Associations
The ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local, regional and national levels. The ADA National Network consists of ten Regional ADA National Network Centers located throughout the United States that provide local assistance to ensure that the ADA is implemented wherever possible.
The Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is a politically active group that advocates for civil rights, consumer protection, and the environment. The AFJ’s Web site provides information on the organization’s activities and related Federal regulations and legislation. Visitors also can sign up to receive advocacy alerts via email and can access links and information compiled specifically for professional advocates and attorneys.
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S. ADC supports the human and civil rights of all people and opposes racism and bigotry in any form. ADC welcomes the participation and support of people of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds.
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
With over 35 million members, the AARP is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country. Since 1958, it has lobbied for the rights of aging Americans--both those who are retired, and those who still serve in the workforce. Because the AARP's mission is not limited to retired persons, the AARP no longer bills itself as the American Association for Retired Persons, using the acronym AARP instead.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Founded in 1920 to respond to repressive government measures taken in the wake of World War I, the ACLU has been the leading civil liberties organization for more than 80 years.
American Civil Rights Institute
Based in Sacramento, California, the American Civil Rights Institute is a nationally recognized civil rights organization created to educate the public about racial and gender preferences.
The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all blind and visually-impaired people.
Amnesty International is an advocacy and watch group that seeks to ensure that human rights in every country meet the standards set in international treaties and by international law. The group’s Web site provides news on violations of human rights around the world and information on how to contribute to the protection of human rights.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry in the U.S. and abroad through information, education, legislation, and advocacy. ADL serves as a resource for government, media, law enforcement, educators and the public.
Blacks In Government (BIG) was organized in 1975 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia jurisdiction in 1976. BIG has been a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG's goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans.
Center for Constitutional Rights
The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.
For over a half century, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) has led the fight for equal opportunity and social justice. Their visionary leadership was grounded in their commitment to social justice and the firm conviction that the struggle for civil rights would be won, not by one group alone, but through coalition.
Council of Federal EEO and Civil Rights Executives
The Council of Federal EEO and Civil Rights Executives takes a leadership role in EEO, civil rights, affirmative action, and diversity issues affecting the Federal Government. Their activities include providing input to Congress, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Personnel Management, the National Performance Review, and other federal agencies and organizations on issues affecting EEO and other civil rights issues in the federal sector; networking and information sharing between EEO professionals; and engagement with other civil rights organizations to find common ground on issues of importance to the EEO and civil rights communities in the federal sector.
DRA is a non-profit legal center dedicated to securing the civil rights of people with disabilities. DRA advocates for disability rights through high-impact litigation, as well as research and education.
The DAV was founded in 1920 by disabled veterans returning from World War I to represent their unique interests. In 1932, the DAV was congressionally chartered as the official voice of the nation’s wartime disabled veterans dedicated to building better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families.
Our mission is to promote universal access to transportation for people with disabilities under federal law and beyond by partnering with transportation providers, the disability community and others through the provision of training, technical assistance, applied research, outreach and communication. The primary values of our work are partnership, coalition building, coordination, inclusion, independence and the importance of access to transportation choices for people with disabilities.
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Founded in 1990, the EFF works specifically to ensure that civil liberties continue to be protected in the digital age. The EFF is particularly concerned with First Amendment free speech issues, and is best known for organizing the "blue ribbon campaign" in response to the Communications Decency Act of 1995 (which was later declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court).
Federal Asian Pacific American Council
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) was founded in 1985. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing the civilian and military Asian Pacific American (APA) employees in the Federal and District of Columbia governments.
Federally Employed Women (FEW) is a private membership organization working as an advocacy group to improve the status of women employed by the federal government and by the District of Columbia government.
Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. For more than 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.
The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center is one of ten regional centers established to provide training, information, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, consumers, schools, and state and local governments.
Founded in 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
The NAACP, founded in 1909, advocates for the rights of African Americans and other racial minority groups. It was the NAACP that brought Brown v. Board of Education, the case that ended state-mandated public school segregation in the United States, to the U.S. Supreme Court.
National Council of La Raze (NCLR)
Founded in 1968, the NCLR defends Hispanic Americans against discrimination, supports anti-poverty initiatives, and works for humane immigration reform. Although the phrase "La Raza" (or "the race") is often used specifically to refer to those of Mexican ancestry, the NCLR is an advocacy group for all Americans of Latina/o ancestry.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the nation's oldest support and advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. In addition to supporting legislation granting equal protection to same-sex couples, the Task Force has recently begun a Transgender Civil Rights Project aimed at ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
National Organization for Women (NOW)
With over 500,000 members, the NOW is generally regarded as the political voice of the women's liberation movement. Founded in 1966, it works to end discrimination based on gender, protect a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, and promote the overall status of women in the United States.
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities.
Since 1972, the Center has expanded the possibilities for women and girls in this country. The Center’s primary purpose is to advance the issues that cut to the core of women's lives in education, employment, family and economic security, and health and reproductive rights—with special attention given to the needs of low-income women and their families.
Society of American Indian Government Employees
Formed in 2002, SAIGE is the first national non-profit organization representing American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Federal, Tribal, State, and local government employees. SAIGE provides a forum on the issues, challenges, and opportunities of AI/ANs in the government workforce (including Tribal governments) and works to foster a professional network among AI/AN government employees.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) represents the world's commitment to universal ideals of human dignity. We have a unique mandate from the international community to promote and protect all human rights.
Article Databases
Federal Register topics in Civil Rights
Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Review
HG.org/Law-Articles-Civil-Rights
News Sources
Advocate.com: The Award-Winning LGBT News Site
Advocate.com is a LGBT rights news site.
EthnicMajority.com was launched in 2002 to educate, assist, and empower African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans to achieve advancement in politics, business, at work, and society in general.
The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedon of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government.
Law.com's U.S. Supreme Court Monitor
Law.com offers Supreme Court coverage.
Los Angeles Times Topics in Civil-Rights
News about civil rights, including commentary and archival articles published in The Los Angeles Times.
New York Times Topics in Civil Rights
News about civil rights, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
OneWorld.net aggregates news stories from more than 1,600 sites to give us the most comprehensive human rights page available anywhere.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is a nonprofit consumer organization with a two-part mission -- consumer information and consumer advocacy.
Southern Poverty Law Center: The Intelligence Report
The SPLC's Intelligence Report, published quarterly, provides in-depth profiles of hate groups, racism, and antiracism initiatives.
Provides a wide-range of coverage of issues related to women the world-over.
An information gateway to the many United Nations services and programs working towards women's equality and empowerment. Offers the latest UN news on women's rights, videos, publications, committees, and more.
Wikis
Affirmative Action in the United States
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Employment Discrimination Law in the United States
Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
Hate Crime Laws in the United States
Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
Civil Rights Libraries
Have a research resource to submit? Contact CRLC@dot.gov. For all other EEO and DBE inquiries, please visit the DOT DOCR Website for more information on employee and public Civil Rights services.
Disclaimer: The links listed are provided as resources of information. Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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