20.5.2 - Affirmative Action

Question 1

Where did the phrase affirmative action first appear?

Answer 1

JFK’s Executive Order 10925

Question 2

What did Chief Justice Roberts say about affirmative action in 2007?

Answer 2

‘the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race’

Question 3

What are 2 recent Supreme Court cases regarding affirmative action?

Answer 3

• Schuette v Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (2014)
• Fisher v University of Texas (2013 and 2016)

Question 4

What did the Supreme Court rule in the Schuette v Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action case?

Answer 4

The ban on affirmative action in the Michigan state constitution was not unconstitutional

Question 5

What did the Court rule in the Fisher I case?

Answer 5

The Court ruled that while race could be a consideration in uni admissions, a court would need to confirm this was ‘necessary’, ‘strict scrutiny’

Question 6

What did the Court rule in the Fisher II case?

Answer 6

That the University of Texas admissions policy met the requirements of ‘strict scrutiny’