Chapman v. Houston Welfare Rights Organization

In order for there to be federal district court jurisdiction under 28 U. S. C. § 1343 (3), two requirements must be met. First, the suit must be “authorized by law,” and, second, the suit must seek redress of a deprivation under color of state law of any right “secured by the Constitution of the United States or by any Act of Congress providing for equal rights . ...”1 Title 42 U. S. C. § 1983 provides a cause of action for deprivations under color of state law of any right “secured by the Constitution and laws” of the United States.2 I agree with the Court’s conclusion that, even assuming…