Federal Fair Housing Laws Quiz

Questions and Answers

What does the Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibit?

Discrimination based on age

Discrimination based on race (correct)

Discrimination based on economic status

Discrimination based on gender

What is the main purpose of Executive Order No. 11063?

To ban discrimination in federal housing (correct)

To promote housing for the elderly

To enforce property taxes

To allow discrimination in housing

What additional areas does the Civil Rights Act of 1964 cover besides voting rights?

Healthcare

Employment only

Transportation

Education and public accommodations (correct)

What major policy did the 1968 Civil Rights Act introduce?

Federal Fair Housing Act Signup and view all the answers

The Jones vs. Mayer Supreme Court Decision upheld racial discrimination in home selling.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does the 1972 Amendment to The Fair Housing Act prohibit?

Discrimination based on familial status Signup and view all the answers

Define familial status.

One or more individuals under 18 living with a parent or legal guardian. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as handicap or disability?

A physical or mental impairment that limits major life activities. Signup and view all the answers

What qualifies as housing for older persons?

Housing occupied by persons age 62 or older or at least one person 55 years or older. Signup and view all the answers

Name the seven protected classes.

Familial Status, Race, Sex/Gender, Handicapped, Color, Religion, National Origin. Signup and view all the answers

What is blockbusting?

Inducing panic selling for financial gain Signup and view all the answers

What does steering refer to in housing terms?

Channeling home-seekers to or away from certain neighborhoods. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Federal Fair Housing Laws & Protected Classes

Civil Rights Act of 1866: Prohibits discrimination based on race, securing rights to inherit, purchase, lease, and sell property. Forms the foundation for anti-racial discrimination in real estate.
Executive Order No. 11063: Issued by JFK on Nov 20, 1962, to ensure equal housing access. Bans discrimination in federal housing programs, including FHA and VA loans.
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Expands anti-discrimination measures to public accommodations and education. Reinforces previous orders by prohibiting discrimination in programs receiving federal assistance.
1968 Civil Rights Act: Introduces the Federal Fair Housing Act, Title VIII. Prohibits discriminatory practices in housing sales, rentals, financing, and brokerage services based on race, color, religion, or nationality. Later amendments included sex as a protected class.
Key Prohibited Practices:
- Refusing to rent or sell based on discriminatory criteria.
- Varying lease or sale terms for discriminatory reasons.
- Exclusionary advertising.
- Misleading minority clients about property availability.
- Discriminatory home loan practices.
- Restricting minority participation in realty associations.
Jones vs. Mayer (1968): The Supreme Court ruled against a developer who refused to sell to a black man and his white wife for racial reasons, confirming the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
1972 Amendment to The Fair Housing Act: Expands protection against housing discrimination to include familial status and handicap, also establishing maximum fines for violations.
Familial Status: Defined as individuals under 18 living with a parent or legal custodian, including pregnant individuals. Properties must be equally available unless exempt for older persons.
Handicap or Disability: Refers to substantial physical or mental impairments affecting major life activities. Excludes current illegal substance use but protects those in recovery and individuals with AIDS.
Housing for Older Persons: Certain properties can limit occupancy to the elderly, specifically those rented solely to individuals aged 62 and older or with at least one person aged 55 or over per unit.
Seven Protected Classes:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- National Origin
- Sex/Gender
- Familial Status
- Handicapped
Blockbusting: A tactic involving triggering panic selling by suggesting a minority group's arrival will decrease property values in the neighborhood.
Steering: The practice of directing home-seekers towards or away from certain neighborhoods based on discriminatory criteria.

Description

Test your knowledge on the Federal Fair Housing Laws and the protected classes that arose from significant civil rights legislation. This quiz covers key acts such as the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, along with their implications for housing discrimination in the United States.