Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
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Image:Eeoc.jpg The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, is a United States federal agency tasked with ending employment discrimination in the United States. Signed into law by President John F. Kennedy by Executive Order 10925, it can bring suit on behalf of alleged victims of discrimination against private employers. It also serves as an adjudicatory for claims of discrimination brought against federal agencies.
The EEOC has five commissioners who make equal employment opportunity policy and approve litigation. These commissioners are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In addition to the Commissioners, EEOC's General Counsel, who, just like the Commissioners, is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, directs the Commission's enforcement and litigation through the regional attorneys in the agency's district offices who file and litigate the Commission's suits throughout the country.
The EEOC's mandate is specified under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Chair of the Commission is Cari M. Dominguez. The position of General Counsel is vacant.
EEOC has five commissioners and a General Counsel appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners are appointed for five-year, staggered terms. The term of the General Counsel is four years. The President designates a Chair and a Vice Chair. The Chair is the chief executive officer of the Commission. The five-member Commission makes equal employment opportunity policy and approves most litigation. The General Counsel is responsible for conducting EEOC enforcement litigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Equal Pay Act (EPA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Cari M. Dominguez was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Her five-year term expires on July 1, 2006. [1]
Chairs of the EEOC
- 1965-1966: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.
- 1966-1967: Stephen N. Shulman
- 1967-1969: Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.
- 1969-1973: William H. Brown, III
- 1975-1976: Lowell W. Perry
- 1976-1981: Eleanor Holmes Norton
- 1981-1982: J. Clay Smith, Jr. (acting)
- 1982-1990: Clarence Thomas
- 1990-1993: Evan J. Kemp, Jr.
- 1993-1994: Tony Gallegos (acting)
- 1994-1998: Gilbert Casellas
- 1998-1998: Paul Igasaki (acting)
- 1998-2001: Ida L. Castro
- 2001-pres: Cari M. Dominguez
Acts enforced by the EEOC
The EEOC enforces the following laws:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Equal Pay Act of 1963
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sections 501 and 505
- Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
- Civil Rights Act of 1991