California Proposition 209

The intent of California Proposition 209 was to prohibit the state, local governments, districts, public universities, colleges, schools, and other government institutions from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to any individual or group in public employment, public education, or public contracting on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. In summary the intent of this measure was to prevent reverse discrimination as well as to restore the Civil Rights Act that stated: The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contraction.

The three specific areas covered are public employment, public education, and public contracting. Companies and government institutions are required to hire a designated percentage of minorities under affirmative action. Proposition 209 eliminates the mandatory hiring practices required because of affirmative action. Second is public education; colleges and universities are required to admit a certain number of minorities, including woman, to attain their quotas. Many students who are more qualified than those admitted are often rejected because they are not a minority. Proposition 209 eliminates the quotas set by affirmative action. Third is public contracting; which offers government incentives to contractors who sub-contract work to minority businesses. Proposition