Federal Fair Housing Laws Quiz

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.