Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States upheld the constitutionality of which provision?

• A. Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• B. Voting Rights Act
• C. Equal Rights Amendment
• D. Civil Rights Act of 1968

Answer: (A)

The main concept tested is Congress's power under the Commerce Clause to regulate public accommodations. Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States upheld the constitutionality of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination by places of public accommodation serving interstate travelers. The Court held that discrimination in hotels and similar establishments affects interstate commerce in a substantial way, so Congress can regulate and outlaw it nationwide. This demonstrates how federal authority can reach private businesses when their operations impact the flow of goods and people across state lines.

The other choices don’t fit because they address different issues: the Voting Rights Act targets voting rights, not public accommodations; the Equal Rights Amendment was never adopted into the Constitution; and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 focuses on housing discrimination and other protections, not the specific public-venue discrimination covered by Title II.