Civil Rights Act of 1960, May 6, 1960
The Civil Rights Act of 1960 was intended to strengthen voting rights and expand the enforcement powers of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. It included provisions for federal inspection of local voter registration rolls and authorized court-appointed referees to help African Americans register and vote. It also provided criminal penalties for anyone attempting to prevent people from voting. Controversial at the time of passage, the act foreshadowed an increasing emphasis on enforcement of voting rights and paved the way for additional civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965.
General Records of the U.S. Government, National Archives and Records Administration


Legislative Highlights
The U.S. Constitution states that “The Congress shall have Power…To make all Laws.” The original laws enacted by Congress are preserved at the National Archives. This page highlights some of the most historically significant laws Congress has passed throughout the nation’s history.