Recognizing the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
H. Res. 315 is a nonbinding House resolution recognizing the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Introduced in the 119th Congress, the bill honors the Act as the first federal law to define citizenship and guarantee equal protection under the law, and it situates the Act within the broader Reconstruction era history—including opposition from President Andrew Johnson, the use of vetoes, and eventual overrides. The resolution then states three purposes: (1) to acknowledge the Act’s significance in protecting all Americans’ rights regardless of race, (2) to recognize it as a foundational framework for later constitutional amendments (the 13th and 14th), and (3) to affirm the rule of law and a commitment to support and defend the rights of all Americans. Because it is a commemorative resolution, it does not create or change law.
Key Points
- 1This is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (passed April 9, 1866) and noting its historical importance.
- 2The resolution describes the Act as the first federal law to define citizenship and guarantee equal protection under the law for all citizens.
- 3It provides historical context, including Reconstruction policies, the Black Codes, and the presidential veto and congressional overrides that led to the Act’s enactment.
- 4It asserts that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 laid a groundwork for the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments.
- 5The bill states that the House supports the rule of law and the ongoing effort to protect and defend the rights of all Americans; it is introduced with a specific set of sponsors and referred to the Judiciary Committee, but it does not alter statutory rights.