Federal Law Reference for Women's Rights
POLITICAL & CIVIL RIGHTS
Federal law protects women's rights to vote, hold office, serve on juries, and participate fully in civic and political life. The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is the primary enforcement agency for voting rights.
Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1920)
U.S. Const. amend. XIX
Prohibits the federal government and states from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. Ratified in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment is the constitutional foundation for women's suffrage in the United States.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
52 U.S.C. § 10101 et seq.
Prohibits discriminatory voting practices and procedures, including literacy tests, that have been used to disenfranchise voters. Protects all voters, including women of color who faced compounded barriers to voting even after the Nineteenth Amendment. Enforced by the DOJ Civil Rights Division.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 — Public Accommodations (Title II)
42 U.S.C. § 2000a et seq.
Prohibits discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. Sex is not currently a protected class under Title II at the federal level, but is covered in many state statutes.
Equal Rights Amendment — Current Status
Proposed constitutional amendment; not yet ratified
The Equal Rights Amendment, passed by Congress in 1972, states that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied on account of sex. As of 2026, the ERA's ratification status remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings. It is not currently recognized as part of the U.S. Constitution by the National Archivist.
Retaliation Protections
52 U.S.C. § 10101(b) (Voting Rights Act)
Federal law prohibits intimidation, threats, or coercion against any person for voting or attempting to vote, or for urging others to vote. The DOJ Civil Rights Division investigates voting-related retaliation.