What was the issue in the Supreme Court case University of California v Bakke?
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Regents of the U. of California v. Bakke (1978) Affirmative Action, Equal Protection The Cases
Overview"Race or ethnic background may be deemed a ‘plus’ in a particular applicant’s file, yet it does not insulate the individual from comparison with all other candidates for the available seats." Justice Powell, speaking for the Court This case explores the legal concept of equal protection. In the early 1970s, the University of California Davis School of Medicine devised a dual admissions program to increase representation of racial minorities and “disadvantaged” students. Allan Bakke, a White person, applied to and was rejected from the regular admissions program. Applicants of color with lower grade point averages and test scores were admitted under the specialty admissions program. Bakke filed suit, alleging that the dual admissions system violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and excluded him on the basis of race. The Supreme Court found for Bakke against the rigid use of racial quotas, but also established that race was a permissible criterion among several others. For StudentsThis section is for students. Use the links below to download classroom-ready .PDFs of case resources and activities.About the Case Full Case SummariesA thorough summary of case facts, issues, relevant constitutional provisions/statutes/precedents, arguments for each side, decision, and case impact.
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Landmark Cases GlossaryThe LandmarkCases.org glossary compiles all of the important vocab terms from case materials. It is provided as a view-only Google Sheet. What issue was debated in the Bakke case?Previously, the school implemented a quota system where white applicants could only compete for 84 out of 100 spots, and the remaining 16 were reserved for racial minorities. Bakke sued the school, arguing that the clear-cut racial quota system was unconstitutional and a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
What happened in the Supreme Court case of University of California v Bakke?Bakke decision, formally Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, ruling in which, on June 28, 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court declared affirmative action constitutional but invalidated the use of racial quotas.
How did the decision in Regents v Bakke affect?Justice Lewis Powell's ruling in the 1978 case Regents v. Bakke buoyed affirmative action—but in the process, it transformed how colleges think about race and equality in admissions. Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell was on the fence in 1978.
What argument did the University make in Regents v Bakke quizlet?In Regents of University of California v. Bakke , the Supreme Court ruled that a university's use of racial quotas in its admissions process was unlawful, but a school's use of "affirmative action" to accept more outvoted candidates was constitutional in some circumstances.
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