What does the term 'under color of law' refer to?

• A. Actions taken while off duty.
• B. Actions by private individuals.
• C. Actions by an officer in the performance of official duties.
• D. Actions by non-law enforcement agencies.

Answer: (C)

Under color of law means using government authority or the appearance of official power to deprive someone of rights. It focuses on actions taken by someone who is acting in an official capacity as a representative of the state. An officer performing official duties fits this precisely because they’re wielding the state’s authority in carrying out their role. The other options miss that key element: off-duty actions aren’t carried out under the state’s official power, and private individuals or non–law-enforcement actions don’t inherently involve the government’s authority unless there’s a specific state-actor link. In practice, this concept is central to civil rights liability when a law enforcement officer uses official power in a way that violates someone’s rights.