U.S. Supreme Court declares affirmative action unconstitutional in landmark ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, voted 6-3 to declare “affirmative action” and similar measures unconstitutional.
These policies, implemented since 1978, allowed preferential treatment for certain groups in job and university admissions based on race, leading to concerns about fairness and meritocracy.
The court’s decision stemmed from two lawsuits, one against the University of North Carolina (UNC) and another against Harvard University.
In both cases, the court ruled that their affirmative action policies violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits racial discrimination.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the majority opinion, emphasized that the Constitution focuses on substance rather than labels.
He argued that race should not be the sole basis for granting benefits or admissions, but rather individual experiences, achievements, and contributions to the university.
Affirmative action had resulted in significant disparities in academic standing among students of different races on college campuses.
Critics argued that it led to situations where students from certain racial backgrounds with lower test scores were admitted over others with higher scores.
For example, a study found that at Harvard, an African-American student in the 50th percentile had a higher chance of admission than a white student in the 90th percentile.
The Supreme Court’s decision marked a significant shift in the interpretation of the Constitution regarding affirmative action.
It addressed concerns about fairness and the principle of equal protection under the law, while encouraging universities to consider a broader range of individual experiences and achievements in their admissions processes.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief