HISET Social Studies Practice

What was the ruling in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke?

1. No quotas based on race for college admissions

2. All students must be admitted based on merit

3. Race cannot be considered in any admissions process

4. University programs must be completely diverse

The correct answer is: No quotas based on race for college admissions

In the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, the Supreme Court ruled that while it is permissible for universities to consider race as one factor among many in their admissions processes, the use of strict racial quotas was unconstitutional. This decision came in response to plaintiff Allan Bakke, a white applicant who was denied admission to the medical school at the University of California, Davis, while seats were reserved for minority candidates. The ruling emphasized that affirmative action programs must be designed to promote diversity without using rigid quotas, thereby balancing the goals of increasing diversity and ensuring that applicants are evaluated based on their individual merits. This nuanced decision allowed for the consideration of race in a manner that supports diversity without allowing for discriminatory practices based solely on race.