Web Quest:
What Should be the Future of Affirmative Action?
Created by: Monica Kauschinger
Introduction:
The phrase “affirmative action”
first appeared in an executive order signed by President John F. Kennedy in
1961. From that point on, federal
agencies and contractors were required not to discriminate on the basis of
race, creed, color, or national origin. But Kennedy’s order now is not
regarded as the original document of affirmative action. That document is an executive order signed
by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, in the wake of devastating race-related
riots in the Watts area of Los Angeles. That order required employers to search
aggressively for qualified minority applicants, and it moved enforcement of the
order from the White House to the Labor Department. Today the phrase affirmative action
describes an array of programs designed to increase employment and educational
opportunities for minorities and women. Many of these programs are
controversial. There is a growing national debate on how to fairly make amends
for past and persistent discrimination. Task: 1.
Describe
arguments made by supporters of affirmative action. 2.
Describe
arguments made by critics of affirmative action. 3.
Explain
how the U.S. Supreme Court has attempted to resolve the constitutional
questions surrounding the issue of affirmative action by researching the
following cases: a.
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) b.
Adarand Construction Inc. v. Pena (1995) 4.
Explain
what you believe should be the future of affirmative action. Process: 1.
Use
the websites provided in the resources list to research the information needed
to complete each task. 2.
After
you have collected all the necessary information, type a paper entitled “What
Should be the Future of Affirmative Action?” fulfilling the following
requirements: a.
A
typed cover page. b.
Two
to five typed double spaced pages, using 1inch margins and a font size of 12. c.
Your
paper must begin with an introduction that clearly defines the issue. d.
Your
paper must address each task described above. e.
Your
conclusion must answer the question “What should be the future of affirmative
action?” Resources: National Organization for
Women (NOW): Issue Report on affirmative action American Association for Affirmative
Action Women Don't Need Affirmative
Action - Heritage Commentary Raising the Bar - Heritage
Commentary TIPS site: University
of California v. Bakke (1978) U.S.
Supreme Court Decision: Adarand Construction Inc. v. Pena (1995) Meeting
the Standards of New York State: 1.
Standard
5.1 The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves learning about
political systems; the purposes of government and civic life; and the differing
assumptions held by people across time and place regarding power, authority,
governance, and law. 2.
The
state and federal governments established by the Constitutions of the United
States and the State of New York embody basic civic values (such as justice,
honesty, self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for
minority rights, and respect for self, others and property), principles, and
practices and establish a system of shared and limited government (Adapted from The National
Standards for Civics and Government, 1994) Evaluation: 1.
Description of arguments made by supporters of affirmative
action: 15 points 2.
Description
of arguments made by opponents of affirmative action: 15 points 3.
Description
for each Supreme Court case including the U.S. Supreme Court decision, and the
importance of the decision: 30 points 4.
Conclusion:
“What should be the future of affirmative action?”: 20 points 5.
A
typed cover page: 5 points 6.
Three
to five typed double spaced pages, using 1inch margins and a font size of
12: 15 points