The Office of Civil Rights, or OCR, exists to ensure that equal access to public education is guaranteed to every American citizen. It receives and analyzes complaints of discrimination, then takes action to see that the cause of discrimination is eliminated and that all members of a student body are treated equally and with the same degree of care and respect. The organization is made up of several advisory committees, operational committees, and independent organizations with affiliations to OCR. It is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.