Final answer:
In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 209 to ban Affirmative Action on statewide campuses (option b), reflecting a contentious debate on the role of these policies in addressing historical discrimination versus creating reverse discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1996, California's voters passed Proposition 209, which led to ban Affirmative Action on campuses across the state. This decision was a significant shift in policy, confronting the ongoing debate around methods to eliminate discrimination and promote diversity in education and employment. The history of affirmative action has been marked by cases like Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, which rejected racial quotas but accepted that affirmative action could continue without such quotas. Yet the California proposition represents a period in which some states took a stance against these policies altogether.
Affirmative Action's intention is to counteract past discrimination effects and strive for inclusion and diversity in educational and professional environments. However, opponents often argued that such programs can lead to "reverse discrimination," particularly when race or gender becomes a significant factor in decision-making processes. Both sides of the argument continue to question whether affirmative action policies indeed create a level playing field for all applicants.
Significant legal cases have shaped the implementation and perception of Affirmative Action over the years, reflecting the nation's struggle to balance historic injustices with principles of fairness in a diverse society. Notably, decisions such as Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger confirmed the constitutionality of affirmative action programs under certain circumstances, particularly for achieving diversity in college admissions.