Race Rights (Affirmative Action)

Question 1

Regents of the University of California v Bakke

Answer 1

•Racial quotas ruled unconstitutional but allowed the continuation of race to be considered in admissions
•Positive discrimination

Question 2

Gratz v Bollinger

Answer 2

•Struck down 6-3 a points based admissions system from Michigan
•Automatically gave 20 points to applicants solely based on race

Question 3

Grutter v Bollinger

Answer 3

•Upheld affirmative action as it was on an individualistic basis
•5-4
•SCOTUS didn’t expect AA programmes to be a continuous feature as they won’t be needed by 2028

Question 4

Meredith v Jefferson County

Answer 4

•5-4 that it was unconstitutional to assign students to public school for racial balance

Question 5

Fisher v Texas

Answer 5

•4-3 ruling upheld Texas AA programme as they recognised the benefits of diversity to the university
•Alito: “Affirmative action gone berserk off offensive and unsupported stereotypes”