Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States 1964

Could Congress bar racial discrimination by a motel serving interstate travelers?

379 U.S. 241 (1964)Federal and state power

The question: Could Congress bar racial discrimination by a motel serving interstate travelers?
What the Court held: Yes. The public accommodations title of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a valid exercise of the commerce power.
The vote: 9–0
Era: Civil rights and Vietnam
Read the opinion: 379 U.S. 241 (1964), full text

This page summarizes the Court’s judgment in neutral terms. The opinion, concurrences and dissents are the authority; read them for the reasoning.

Where the question came from. The events behind it.

1964

Civil Rights Act of 1964

July 2, 1964 · Expansion of rights

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in public accommodations, employment and federally funded programs.

Source: National Archives