Supreme Court - Affirmative Action

Question 1

University of California v Bakke (1978)

Answer 1

• SC ruled out racial quotas in university admissions programmes
• However, SC left door open to race being considered in admissions procedures

Question 2

Consequence of California v Bakke (1978)

Answer 2

Fairly conservative ruling but didn’t rule AA out

Question 3

Gratz v Bollinger (2003)

Answer 3

• SC ruled 6-3 that University of Michigan’s affirmative action-based admissions programme for undergraduate student was unconstitutional as it was too ‘mechanistic’
• All black, hispanic, & American-Indian applicants were automatically awarded 20 of the 150 points required for admission

Question 4

Consequence of Gratz v Bollinger (2003)

Answer 4

Conservative ruling

Placed limits on how far a uni could favour minority background students