Title 42 of the United States Code

Title 42 of the U.S.C. is an editorial compilation of laws regarding health, social welfare, and civil rights. Topics range from healthcare, assistance for low-income families, children, natural resources, civil rights, space, certain federal programs, housing and urban policy, equal opportunity, and more. Section 1983 of the title is an enforcement mechanism that permits individuals the right to sue a state employee “acting under color of state law” for a civil rights violation. Section 1988 provides the court with discretion to award reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party in a civil action.

Note that only selected portions of Title 42 are included in this book. The official version of Title 42 of the U.S. Code can be found at https://uscode.house.gov/.