What are the two basic elements of a U.S. Code Section 1983 lawsuit?

In a U.S. Code Section 1983 lawsuit, the two basic elements that must be established are the violation of a constitutional right and that the alleged violation occurred while the defendant was acting under color of law. This means that the defendant was using or misusing their authority as a state or local government official when the constitutional rights were infringed. The focus of a Section 1983 claim is primarily on the actions of state actors and whether their conduct violated one or more rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The requirement of acting under color of law is essential because it distinguishes between private wrongdoing and public authority abuse. Therefore, to succeed in a Section 1983 lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove that their constitutional rights were violated by someone who was exercising their official capacities, which is typically the case with government officials.