Final answer:
The Civil Rights Act of 1991 characterizes the requirement for violators to pay punitive damages for emotional pain and suffering; it also limits punitive damages based on the size of the company.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that characterizes the Civil Rights Act of 1991 is "It requires violators to pay punitive damages that specifically cover emotional pain and suffering." This Act served as an amendment to previous civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to provide the right to trial by jury on discrimination claims and introduce the possibility of emotional distress damages and limited the amount of punitive damages that could be awarded.
While the Act did address issues of punitive damages, it is noteworthy that it sets caps on the amount of punitive damages an employer may have to pay, making statement D the accurate characterization.
More specifically, the Civil Rights Act of 1991 allows for compensatory damages for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. Moreover, it limits the maximum punitive damages allowed depending on the size of an organization. Small companies may have to pay up to $50,000, while larger companies could pay up to $300,000. It was a significant addition to workplace discrimination laws, ensuring greater protection for employees from discrimination and unfair employment practices.