Final answer:
The Human Rights Law, or Executive Law, expands protected classes beyond race, color, religion, sex, and national origin to include attributes like sexual orientation and disability, with the basis being the Equal Protection Clause. It reflects the constitutional and democratic values upholding freedom and equality under the law, influenced by historical advancements and specific executive and legislative actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Human Rights Law, also referred to as the Executive Law, extends the protected classes to ensure equal protection under the law to a variety of groups. These protections include, but are not limited to race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides the basis for these extensions, where the government must demonstrate a compelling interest for any unequal treatment based on these characteristics. Moreover, the struggle for equality in employment, represented by Title VII, combats discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This commitment to equality is a reflection of constitutionalism and the democratic values inherent in the American legal system.
Significant Civil Rights Movement advancements and Supreme Court decisions, like Loving v. Virginia and the overturning of cases like Dred Scott v. Sandford, have historically expanded the scope of who is protected under civil rights laws. Additionally, specific executive orders, such as President Truman's order to desegregate the military, have directly contributed to the enforcement of these rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act is another example of expanding protections to include disabled individuals. Human rights, both as a concept and as law, have evolved to ensure that all individuals enjoy freedom from discrimination and the ability to live according to their own direction, without undue governmental interference.