Texas Real Estate Brokerage Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) Practice Exam

Which law prohibits discrimination in housing based on race and color?

1. The Fair Housing Act

2. The Homestead Act

3. The Civil Rights Act of 1964

4. The Civil Rights Act of 1866

The correct answer is: The Civil Rights Act of 1866

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is pivotal in the context of housing and discrimination, as it was among the first federal laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on race. This law guarantees all citizens the same right to purchase and sell property, without regard to race or color. Its establishment laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation aimed at addressing civil rights. While the Fair Housing Act, enacted later in 1968, also addresses discrimination in housing, the 1866 Act specifically focuses on race and color, ensuring that people cannot be denied housing opportunities based on these characteristics. The Homestead Act does not relate to discrimination but rather to land distribution and settlement, while the Civil Rights Act of 1964 broadly addresses various forms of discrimination across multiple areas such as employment and public accommodations, not solely housing. Therefore, the focus of the 1866 Act on race provides the core reasoning for its designation as the correct answer in this context.