1. Regents of the university of California v. bakke
Danielle Poindexter

2. Parties involved
Regents of the University of California Medical School at Davis
Allan Bakke
A 35 year old white male applicant to the medical school

3. Background
Allan Bakke was rejected twice from the University of California Medical School in favor of minority students
once in 1973 and again in 1974
UCA’s racial quota was used to remedy “longstanding, unfair minority exclusions from the medical profession.”
16 out of 100 spaces for entering students were held for these minorities, meaning that 100 spaces were available to minorities and only 84 were left open for Caucasians.

4. Background, continued
The special applicants were not compared to the regular applicants; they were not even held to the same requirements

5. Point of law Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
This “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.”
The Equal Protection Clause (found in the 14th Amendment)
Denies the states or any federally funded program the ability to discriminate

6. The Process
Bakke took to a trial court and then to the state of California’s Supreme Court. The case was appealed again, and finally resolved in the Supreme Court of the United States.

7. Decision Argued: October 12, 1977 Decided: June 26, 1978
Majority decision written by Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr.
“Any racial quota system supported by government violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
Race could be looked at as one of many admissions factors in order to increase educational diversity.
The medical school was ordered to admit Bakke.

8. Review
Question and official conclusion

9. Historical/political impact
Affirmative Action is constitutional in that:
Race can be considered only as a plus
Must be looked at as one of many factors in the admissions process
Used to increase diversity
Quotas (a set number) are unconstitutional
Reverse discrimination by a federally funded program

10. Cartoons

11. Works Cited
Pictures:

12. Works Cited
Cornell University Law School. Regents of the Uni v. of Cal. v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978). Accessed November 10,
McBride, Alex. Regents of University of California v. Bakke (1978). Published December Accessed November 10,
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights/The Leadership Conference Education Fund. “U.S. Supreme Court.” Accessed November 10,
The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. "REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA v. BAKKE." Accessed November 10,
The U.S. Department of Justice. “TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.” Last modified July 30, Accessed November 13,