Final answer:
Proposition 209 was a 1996 amendment to the California State Constitution that prohibited state institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity in public employment, education, and contracting. This is to be differentiated from Proposition 187, which in 1994 aimed at denying services to undocumented immigrants but was later deemed unconstitutional.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proposition 209 was a 1996 amendment to the California State Constitution that addressed the issue of affirmative action in public employment, public education, and public contracting. Unlike Proposition 187, which targeted undocumented immigrants, Proposition 209 was focused on ending what its proponents considered to be preferential treatment based on race, sex, or ethnicity. By enacting this amendment, California prohibited state governmental institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public education, and public contracting.
The context of Proposition 209 is rooted in California's history with measures like Proposition 187. Introduced in 1994, Proposition 187 sought to prohibit undocumented immigrants from using non-emergency health care, public education, and other services in California. Eventually, Proposition 187 was ruled unconstitutional because it tried to regulate immigration, which is a power reserved for the federal government.
In the broader scope of California politics and social movements, both Proposition 187 and 209 sparked significant debate and activism, particularly among Latino groups and minorities. Prop 209 was eventually approved by voters in 1996, reflecting divisive societal views on the role of race and ethnicity in public policy and equality of opportunity.