Legal Definitions - affirmative action

Affirmative action is a set of actions that aim to eliminate discrimination, remedy the effects of past discrimination, and prevent future discrimination. It is used in employment and education to ensure that people are not discriminated against based on their race, color, creed, or national origin.

One example of affirmative action in employment is when government contractors are required to document their affirmative action practices and metrics. This means that they must ensure that applicants are employed and treated fairly, regardless of their race, color, creed, or national origin. If an employer has intentionally engaged in discriminatory practices, affirmative action can be used as a remedy.

In education, affirmative action is used to ensure that educational institutions that have acted discriminatorily in the past take affirmative action as a remedy. For example, if a school has a history of excluding minority students, affirmative action can be used to ensure that they are given equal opportunities to succeed.

Affirmative action is designed to promote equality and fairness by eliminating discrimination and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities. The examples illustrate how affirmative action is used in employment and education to prevent discrimination and remedy the effects of past discrimination. By requiring employers and educational institutions to document their affirmative action practices and metrics, affirmative action helps to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and given equal opportunities to succeed.