Under the ADA, which statement accurately distinguishes public entities from public accommodations?

Under the ADA, which statement accurately distinguishes public entities from public accommodations?

• A. Private businesses; public accommodations are government programs.
• B. Public entities are private clubs; Public accommodations are private charities.
• C. Public entities are state or local governments and their programs; Public accommodations are private businesses that provide goods or services to the public.
• D. Public entities require federal funding; Public accommodations do not.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how the ADA separates entities: public entities are state or local governments and their programs, while public accommodations are private businesses or private entities that provide goods or services to the public. This distinction maps directly to the two titles of the ADA—Title II covers public entities, and Title III covers public accommodations. So a city transit system or a public university falls under public entities, whereas a privately owned hotel or restaurant that serves the public is a public accommodation. The other options mislabel who counts as a public entity or public accommodation and also introduce funding status, which the ADA does not use to define these categories.

The key idea is how the ADA separates entities: public entities are state or local governments and their programs, while public accommodations are private businesses or private entities that provide goods or services to the public. This distinction maps directly to the two titles of the ADA—Title II covers public entities, and Title III covers public accommodations. So a city transit system or a public university falls under public entities, whereas a privately owned hotel or restaurant that serves the public is a public accommodation. The other options mislabel who counts as a public entity or public accommodation and also introduce funding status, which the ADA does not use to define these categories.