Final answer:
A violation of the federal fair housing law, stemming from the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, would be considered an illegal act of housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Step-by-step explanation:
A violation of the federal fair housing law, which includes provisions to prevent discrimination due to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, would be considered an illegal act under the Civil Rights Act of 1968, often referred to as the Fair Housing Act. This law expanded on the protections laid out in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on similar grounds. Discrimination in housing can take many forms, including refusing to sell or rent housing, setting different terms and conditions, falsely denying availability, and advertising preferences for certain groups. The Fair Housing Act aims to combat not only direct discrimination but also practices that have a discriminatory effect, such as redlining.
The implementation of this law marked a significant step in the fight against housing discrimination, implicating legal consequences for individuals or entities violating the provisions. While amendments such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 have continued to clarify and expand these protections, studies and evidence over the years indicate that discrimination, unfortunately, persists in various forms.