Abstract
The essence of good government lies in its humanity—in its commitment to help the oppressed and the poor find economic well-being and equality. Affirmative action is a manifestation of that commitment. Its justification derives from the history of exclusion and discrimination suffered by millions of Americans who have sought, and been denied, equal access to employment and educational opportunity in this country. Affirmative action seeks to correct past and present discriminatory patterns and their effects. The concept dates back to the Wagner Act, which 40 years ago required “affirmative action” against employers whose antiunion activities violated the law. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has applied this concept to discrimination in employment based on race, national origin, and sex. Executive Order 11246, issued in 1965, barred employment discrimination in the federal government and by federal contractors and subcontractors.
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© 1977 Plenum Press, New York
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Roybal, E.R. (1977). Affirmative Action: A Congressional Perspective. In: Melnick, V.L., Hamilton, F.D. (eds) Minorities in Science. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2367-9_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2367-9_21
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