Civil rights

Description

This report examines 1982 Federal budget proposals to reduce allocations for civil rights enforcement efforts, to reduce or eliminate several equal rights programs, and to limit categorical grants in favor of block grants that would authorize funding for several activities under one law. The analysis derives its basis from government principles of emancipation and equality reflected in the "Civil War" amendments to the Constitution. The report traces the history of the amendments and of subsequent civil rights legislation, examines the results of civil rights movements and government efforts to eliminate the effects of past discrimination, and analyzes the consequences of the budget proposals for Federal civil rights enforcement efforts. The relationship of social and economic equal opportunity programs to the Civil War Amendments is also examined and effects of proposed revisions on program budgets are evaluated. The efficacy of the block grants approach from a civil rights perspective is also considered. It is concluded that proposed budget restrictions will hamper Federal efforts against discrimination in education, employment, housing, and services provision and, further, that the conversion of categorical programs to block grants without developing essential enforcement mechanisms will jeopardize guarantees that funds will be targeted exactly as Congress intended.

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