Final answer:
Place of origin (option d) , associated with national origin, is not part of the non-suspect classification as it is a characteristic that is closely scrutinized under anti-discrimination laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term non-suspect classification refers to characteristics that, when laws discriminate on their basis, do not require courts to apply the most rigorous level of scrutiny. In other words, these characteristics are deemed less likely to be a pretext for unlawful discrimination. The question asks which of the mentioned categories is not considered a non-suspect classification, implying that there would be a stricter level of scrutiny applied if this characteristic were to be the basis of discrimination.
Options a) Age, b) Income level, and c) Marital status typically fall under non-suspect classification, meaning laws that differentiate based on these are given a more lenient review by the courts. However, d) Place of origin is associated with national origin, which is a characteristic that is closely scrutinized under anti-discrimination laws. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate based on national origin, among other traits.