Final answer:
The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case in 1978 was significant because it struck down racial quotas in college admissions, while upholding affirmative action without strict quotas, paving the way for holistic admissions practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke Basic Facts-
The Regents of the University of California v. Bakke case is a pivotal legal decision rendering the use of racial quotas in college admissions as unlawful while upholding the constitutionality of affirmative action programs under certain conditions. The 1978 Supreme Court ruling found that the specifics of the University of California's quota system violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case originated when Allan Bakke, a white applicant with higher test scores and grades compared to some minority applicants, was denied entry to the University of California at Davis's medical school. The Supreme Court's split decision mandated the admission of Mr. Bakke and simultaneously reinforced the delicate balance between addressing historical injustices and maintaining fairness without staunch racial divisions.
The decision suggests government-sponsored racial quotas are permissible only in extreme circumstances but supports the idea that race can be one of several factors in a holistic admissions process. This ruling continues to affect the discourse on affirmative action and was referenced in later cases like Grutter v. Bollinger in 2003 and subsequent Fisher v. University of Texas rulings.