Affirmative Action

1
Affirmative Action
Positive steps taken to increase the
representation of women and minorities in area of
employment, education, and business from which
they have been historically excluded.
Source Fullinwider, 2005. http//plato.stanford.e
du/archives/spr2005/entries/affirmative-action/
2
Affirmative Action Timeline

• 1961 - President Kennedy issued Executive Order
  10925 that mandates federally funded projects to
  take affirmative practices to ensure employment
  practices are free of bias.
• 1964 - President Johnson prohibits
  discrimination based on race, color, religion, or
  national origin through the Civil Rights Act.
• 1965 - President Johnson amends EO 11246 to
  address discrimination based on gender.

3
Affirmative Action Timeline

• 1969 - President Nixon via Philadelphia Order
  discourages quotas, but requires contractors to
  demonstrate affirmative action to increase
  minority employment.
• 1978 - The University of California v. Bakke
  landmark Supreme Court case on reverse
  discrimination.
• 1980s early 1990s - various court cases
  regarding affirmative action and
  hiring/termination practices in business and
  education.

4
Affirmative Action Timeline

• 1995 - President Clinton supports policy of
  mend it, dont end it.
• 1996 - Hopwood v. University of Texas Law
  School, the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals suspended
  the universitys affirmative action admissions
  program and Bakke ruled invalid.
• 1997 - Proposition 209 (CA) banned all forms of
  affirmative action in California (no AA and no
  discrimination).

5
Affirmative Action Timeline

• 1998 - Washington state passed Initiative 200
  (similar to Proposition 209 in California).
• 2000 - Florida bans race as factor in college
  admissions University of Michigans undergrad AA
  policy upheld by federal judge.
• 2001 - Different judges opposite ruling in
  University of Michigans case (decision reversed
  in 2002 on appeal).
• 2003 - Supreme Court upholds University of
  Michigans AA because, it furthers a compelling
  interest in obtaining the educational benefits
  that flow from a diverse student body.