In this paper the first year accomplishments and failings of the Carter Administration in civil rights enforcement are assessed. Areas considered include the following: leadership and management, employment, education, housing, health and social services, and veterans affairs. Enforcement in some areas has improved but progress has been slow and in some cases nonexistent. In employment, the Administration has developed a plan for reorganization that promises to upgrade efforts to deal with discrimination in federal employment. A major initiative in education was the development of regulations to carry out the law protecting handicapped persons from discrimination. A pattern of mixed performance has marked the Administration's efforts in urban and rural housing development. The civil rights record in the health and social service fields is poor. It has been limited to responding to litigation, and often responding in a manner that is adverse to the interest of the poor, the minorities and the handicapped. Furthermore, the Administration has been sluggish in protecting the rights of minority veterans to equal treatment in benefit programs. Despite some promising initiatives the Administration needs to demonstrate that it is prepared to confront the tough issues that lie ahead. (Author/AM)