A more thorough explanation:

A civil right is a legal right or privilege that can be enforced by law. It protects individuals from discrimination based on their membership in a particular group or class, such as race, sex, religion, age, physical limitation, national origin, and sexual orientation. Discrimination occurs when someone's civil rights are denied or interfered with.

Civil rights are different from civil liberties, which are personal freedoms protected from government intrusion. For example, the right to vote is a civil right, while the right to free speech is a civil liberty.

The Reconstruction Era was a significant period in U.S. civil rights following the Civil War, during which the federal government attempted to pass laws aimed at helping victims of slavery, primarily African-Americans. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution constituted the largest expansion of civil rights in the history of the United States. These amendments outlawed involuntary servitude, made it illegal for a state to pass laws that discriminate against citizens, and prohibited the U.S. or any state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on their race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most prominent civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. It prohibits discrimination based on "race, color, religion, or national origin" in public establishments that have a connection to interstate commerce or are supported by the state. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits discrimination in voting based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, protects against numerous sorts of housing discrimination.

States can place certain restrictions on who can vote, including restrictions based upon someone's criminal record. Felon disenfranchisement refers to the removal of civil rights, primarily the right to vote, for convicted felons. Some states practice felon disenfranchisement, while others do not.

Examples of civil rights laws include Section 1981 of Title 42, which protects individuals from discrimination based on race in making and enforcing contracts, participating in lawsuits, and giving evidence. Other statutes that protect against discrimination include Civil Action for Deprivation of Rights, Conspiracies to Interfere With Civil Rights, and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.

The judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, plays a crucial role in interpreting the extent of civil rights. A single Supreme Court ruling can alter the recognition of a right throughout the nation. The federal courts have been crucial in mandating and supervising school desegregation programs and other programs established to rectify state or local discrimination.