Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, left, and Chief Justice John Roberts | Tennessee Governor's Office and U.S. Supreme Court's website
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, left, and Chief Justice John Roberts | Tennessee Governor's Office and U.S. Supreme Court's website
With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule this summer on the constitutionality of affirmative action in college admissions, an analysis by the Volunteer State News shows that Tennessee is one of 41 states that currently allow affirmative action.
The first state to ban affirmative action was California, which passed Proposition 209 in 1996. This measure prohibited the consideration of race, gender and ethnicity in public employment, education and contracting.
In 2020, voters in California rejected a ballot measure that would have reinstated affirmative action in public employment, education and contracting, Voters rejected Proposition 16 by a margin of 57% to 43%
Michigan banned affirmative action through a 2006 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution, which prohibited preferential treatment on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education and contracting. The “Yes” vote on the measure was 58%, compared to 42% voting “No.”
In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Michigan's ban on affirmative action in higher education admissions in a 6-2 decision.
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Which States Ban Affirmative Action?
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