A 9.7 Section 1983 Claim Against Local Governing Body Defendants Based on Ratification-Elements and Burden of Proof is a legal claim brought forward against a local government body for its ratification of a civil rights violation. The claim is brought under Section 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code, which guarantees citizens the right to sue state and local governmental entities for civil rights violations. In order to succeed in such a claim, the plaintiff must prove that the local government body either knew or should have known of the civil rights violation and then took some action that showed it approved of the violation. The different elements to be proven by the plaintiff for a successful 9.7 Section 1983 Claim Against Local Governing Body Defendants Based on Ratification-Elements and Burden of Proof are: 1. The local governing body had knowledge of the civil rights violation that was committed. 2. The local governing body ratified the civil rights violation by taking some action that showed approval. 3. The ratification of the civil rights violation resulted in a violation of the plaintiff’s civil rights. The burden of proof in a 9.7 Section 1983 Claim Against Local Governing Body Defendants Based on Ratification-Elements and Burden of Proof falls on the plaintiff. The plaintiff must present evidence that proves the local governing body either knew or should have known of the civil rights violation and then took some action that showed approval.