affirmative action :: essays research papers

Affirmative ActionKenneth HuttnerECO 325prof KrallApril 24, 2002Discrimination is a problem that has plagued our country for many a(prenominal) years. In the away few decades the government has been attempting to correct the problem through anti dissimilitude legislation. Some of the biggest programs have been through affirmative put through. There is a command consensus that there are problems in our society with discrimination in many areas. But the questions we must ask are Is affirmative process a just way to solve the problem of discrimination? Is affirmative deed constitutional or is it reverse discrimination? And how do we go some solving the problem of discrimination if non through affirmative action?President Kennedy first introduced affirmative action in 1961 although he did non really possess the power to do much about it without the stand up of Congress. Affirmative action was expanded into the arena of government contracts. Kennedy made a declaration that sai d that upon accepting a government contract the avower must pledge not to discriminate against any applicants or employees on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin(Elliot and Ewoh, p212). Although the contractors made this pledge there was not much enforcement of it.In 1964 congress took steps battle discrimination in the workplace. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act said that no psyche could be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin when it came to publicly funded programs. This was expanded in 1965 when president Johnson declared that the government would provide relate opportunity employment. Then in 1967 this was again expanded to make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender as well as race(Elliot and Ewoh, p213).In 1970 the Department of Labor ordered that all contractors with government contracts, l or more employees, and received $50,000 or more in care had to develop an extensive affirmative action plan to incl ude minorities in areas where they lacked representation(Elliot and Ewoh, p213). These plans had to include in depth research with goals and timetables, which would be met by the contractors. If the goals were not met then the government would no longer enter into contracts with the contractors. This was called order no 4, and was revised in 1971 to include women(Elliot and Ewoh, p213). At this time affirmative action was not quota based. Later Jimmy Carter would give the responsibility of overseeing these mandates to the Equal work Opportunity Committee.