What is the long-term effect of the Civil Rights Cases decision on federal enforcement of civil rights?

• A. Expanded federal power to enforce civil rights.
• B. Narrowed federal enforcement of civil rights in private conduct.
• C. Made no change to civil rights law.
• D. Abolished the 13th Amendment.

Answer: (B)

The long-term effect is that federal enforcement of civil rights in private conduct was narrowed. The Civil Rights Cases (1883) held that the 14th Amendment protects individuals from state-sactioned discrimination, not actions by private citizens or businesses. Because of that, Congress could not use the 14th Amendment to strike down private discriminatory practices in places like theaters, hotels, or employers. This kept civil rights enforcement targeting private discrimination in check for many decades, until later laws and constitutional interpretations provided other avenues—most notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964, based on the Commerce Clause, to curb private discrimination in public accommodations and commerce.

In other words, the decision did not expand federal power, nor did it leave civil rights enforcement untouched, and it did not touch the 13th Amendment.