Civil Rights Act of 1964

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CIVIL ACTIONS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

SEC. 2000e-6. [Section 707]

(a) Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that
any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice of
resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights secured by this
subchapter, and that the pattern or practice is of such a nature and is
intended to deny the full exercise of the rights herein described, the
Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate district
court of the United States by filing with it a complaint (1) signed by him
(or in his absence the Acting Attorney General), (2) setting forth facts
pertaining to such pattern or practice, and (3) requesting such relief,
including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction,
restraining order or other order against the person or persons responsible
for such pattern or practice, as he deems necessary to insure the full
enjoyment of the rights herein described. 

(b) The district courts of the United States shall have and shall exercise
jurisdiction of proceedings instituted pursuant to this section, and in
any such proceeding the Attorney General may file with the clerk of such
court a request that a court of three judges be convened to hear and
determine the case. Such request by the Attorney General shall be
accompanied by a certificate that, in his opinion, the case is of general
public importance. A copy of the certificate and request for a
three­judge court shall be immediately furnished by such clerk to the
chief judge of the circuit (or in his absence, the presiding circuit judge
of the circuit) in which the case is pending. Upon receipt of such request
it shall be the duty of the chief judge of the circuit or the presiding
circuit judge, as the case may be, to designate immediately three judges
in such circuit, of whom at least one shall be a circuit judge and another
of whom shall be a district judge of the court in which the proceeding was
instituted, to hear and determine such case, and it shall be the duty of
the judges so designated to assign the case for hearing at the earliest
practicable date, to participate in the hearing and determination thereof,
and to cause the case to be in every way expedited. An appeal from the
final judgment of such court will lie to the Supreme Court. 

In the event the Attorney General fails to file such a request in any such
proceeding, it shall be the duty of the chief judge of the district (or in
his absence, the acting chief judge) in which the case is pending
immediately to designate a judge in such district to hear and determine
the case. In the event that no judge in the district is available to hear
and determine the case, the chief judge of the district, or the acting
chief judge, as the case may be, shall certify this fact to the chief
judge of the circuit (or in his absence, the acting chief judge) who shall
then designate a district or circuit judge of the circuit to hear and
determine the case. 

It shall be the duty of the judge designated pursuant to this section to
assign the case for hearing at the earliest practicable date and to cause
the case to be in every way expedited. 

(c) Effective two years after March 24, 1972 [the date of enactment of
the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972], the functions of the
Attorney General under this section shall be transferred to the
Commission, together with such personnel, property, records, and
unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds
employed, used, held, available, or to be made available in connection
with such functions unless the President submits, and neither House of
Congress vetoes, a reorganization plan pursuant to chapter 9 of title 5
[United States Code], inconsistent with the provisions of this
subsection. The Commission shall carry out such functions in accordance
with subsections (d) and (e) of this section. 

(d) Upon the transfer of functions provided for in subsection (c) of this
section, in all suits commenced pursuant to this section prior to the date
of such transfer, proceedings shall continue without abatement, all court
orders and decrees shall remain in effect, and the Commission shall be
substituted as a party for the United States of America, the Attorney
General, or the Acting Attorney General, as appropriate. 

(e) Subsequent to March 24, 1972 [the date of enactment of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Act of 1972], the Commission shall have
authority to investigate and act on a charge of a pattern or practice of
discrimination, whether filed by or on behalf of a person claiming to be
aggrieved or by a member of the Commission. All such actions shall be
conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 2000e-5
of this title [section 706].

Editor's Note
Act
Definitions
Exemption
Unlawful Employment Practices
Other Unlawful Employment Practices
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Enforcement Provisions
Civil Actions by the Attorney General
Effect on State Laws
Investigations, Inspections, Records, State Agencies
Investigatory Powers
Posting of Notices; Penalties
Veterans' Special Rights or Preference
Rules and Regulations
Forcibly Resisting the Commission or its Representatives
Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinating Council
Effective Date
Employment by Federal Government
Special Provisions with respect to Denial, Termination, and Suspension of Government Contracts