CRA
Abbreviation with 6 meanings
| Stands for | Civil Rights Act of 1964 |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 6 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Medical, Business & Finance |
CRA has six meanings. The most common are Civil Rights Act of 1964 (US law) and Canada Revenue Agency (world government); it can also stand for Congressional Review Act, Clinical research associate, Community Reinvestment Act and Consumer reporting agency.
Meanings of CRA at a glance
| # | CRA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Government & Politics › US Law |
| 2 | Canada Revenue Agency | Government & Politics › World Government |
| 3 | Congressional Review Act | Government & Politics › US Law |
| 4 | Clinical research associate | Medical › Medical Research |
| 5 | Community Reinvestment Act | Business & Finance › Banking |
| 6 | Consumer reporting agency | Business & Finance › Personal Finance |
1. Civil Rights Act of 1964
Government & Politics · US Law Abbreviations
Landmark law that outlawed segregation in public accommodations and banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin in employment (Title VII) and in federally funded programs (Title VI). It created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Example: Title VII of the CRA protects workers from being fired because of their religion.
President Lyndon Johnson signed it on July 2, 1964 after a Senate filibuster lasting about 60 working days, then the longest in Senate history. Courts later read Title VII's ban on sex discrimination to cover sexual harassment and, in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), sexual orientation and gender identity. Congress passed other civil rights acts in 1866, 1957, 1960, 1968 and 1991.
2. Canada Revenue Agency
Government & Politics · World Government Abbreviations
Federal agency that administers income tax and the GST/HST, collects most provincial income taxes and pays benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit. Individual tax returns are generally due by April 30.
Example: The CRA sent a notice of assessment confirming her refund.
It was known as Revenue Canada until 1999 and became the Canada Revenue Agency in 2003. Quebec collects its own provincial income tax through Revenu Québec. Scammers frequently impersonate the CRA by phone and text, threatening arrest for unpaid taxes, which the agency says it never does. In US law, CRA has unrelated meanings such as the Civil Rights Act.
3. Congressional Review Act
Government & Politics · US Law Abbreviations
Law of 1996 that lets Congress overturn recently issued federal regulations through a joint resolution of disapproval, using fast-track procedures that avoid a Senate filibuster. If the President signs it, the rule is voided and the agency cannot issue a substantially similar rule without new authorization.
Example: The Senate voted under the CRA to overturn the agency's rule on overdraft fees.
Enacted as part of the Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996, it was first used successfully in 2001 to repeal an OSHA ergonomics rule. Because it covers rules issued in the final months of a previous administration, it is used mostly when a new president's party controls Congress.
4. Clinical research associate
Medical · Medical Research Abbreviations
Professional, usually employed by a sponsor or CRO, who monitors clinical trial sites to verify that the study follows the protocol and GCP, that participants are protected and that data are accurate. CRAs conduct site visits, review source documents and track issues to resolution.
Example: CRA monitoring visit next Tuesday: have the regulatory binder and source documents ready.
Monitoring increasingly mixes on-site visits with remote and centralized data review under risk-based approaches. Many CRAs begin their careers as study coordinators. In Canada CRA usually means the Canada Revenue Agency.
5. Community Reinvestment Act
Business & Finance · Banking Abbreviations · also used in government
US law of 1977 that encourages banks to meet the credit needs of the communities where they take deposits, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Regulators rate each bank's CRA performance and consider the rating when it applies to merge or open branches.
Example: Before approving the merger, regulators reviewed both banks' CRA ratings and community lending records.
The law was a response to "redlining," the practice of denying credit to minority neighborhoods. Ratings are Outstanding, Satisfactory, Needs to Improve or Substantial Noncompliance. A 2023 overhaul of the CRA regulations was challenged in court and put on hold. In Canada, CRA means the Canada Revenue Agency.
6. Consumer reporting agency
Business & Finance · Personal Finance Abbreviations
Company that collects information on consumers' credit, rental or employment history and sells reports to lenders, landlords and employers. In everyday US usage the term usually means the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Example: If you find an error on your report, dispute it directly with the CRA that issued it.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 governs these agencies and gives consumers the right to dispute inaccurate data. Free weekly reports from all three bureaus are available through AnnualCreditReport.com. In Canada, CRA almost always means the Canada Revenue Agency, and in US banking it can mean the Community Reinvestment Act.
Related abbreviations
More US law abbreviations
- CFAA – Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
- CHIPS Act – CHIPS and Science Act
- COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
- COPPA – Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
- CSA – Controlled Substances Act
- CTA – Corporate Transparency Act
- CWA – Clean Water Act
- DADT – Don't ask, don't tell
See all 104 US law abbreviations →
More world government abbreviations
- CM – Chief Minister
- CPC – Communist Party of China
- CPP – Canada Pension Plan
- CPSU – Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- CRTC – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
- CSIRO – Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- CSIS – Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- CSU – Christian Social Union in Bavaria
See all 103 world government abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.