42 U.S.C. § 1983

What is 42 U.S.C. § 1983?

The Civil Rights Act of 1871 is a federal statute, referenced as 42 U.S.C. § 1983, that allows people to sue the government for civil rights violations only when someone is acting “under color of” law and has deprived a person of rights created by the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes.

Further Reading

For more detailed information, see our related Constitutional Law terms:

• Article III of the U.S. Constitution
• State Action or Under Color of Law
• Inherent Powers
• Executive Powers
• Motor Vehicle Searches