Contemporary Civil Rights in the United States: Affirmative Action

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to contemporary civil rights, focusing on affirmative action and associated legal concepts.

Affirmative Action

Intentional efforts to provide equal opportunities in education and employment to groups that have historically suffered discrimination.

Reverse Discrimination

Discrimination against members of a dominant group, often cited in discussions about affirmative action.

Quotas

Numerically specific spaces reserved for historically underrepresented groups in education and employment.

Strict Scrutiny Test

The highest-level test for determining the constitutionality of different treatment of individuals based on race or ethnicity, requiring a compelling government interest.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation that created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to eliminate employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Agency created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to eliminate discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

Protected Class

Groups protected from discrimination in hiring based on race, religion, skin color, national origin, and sex.

Higher Education Act of 1964

Legislation that increased federal grants to colleges and universities and provided scholarships and low-cost loans to students.

Rational Basis Test

The lowest-level test that requires any law treating people differently to be rationally related to a legitimate government interest.

Intermediate Scrutiny Test

A higher level of scrutiny requiring that laws or policies treating people differently justify such treatment as substantially related to an important government interest.