One of the most controversial political issues of the past three decades has been the question of affirmative action. The phrase was first used in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11246, which called upon government-funded contractors to ""take affirmative action"" to ensure that applicants were employed without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin. Affirmative action is still an important and emotionally charged political issue in society today. Affirmative Action, a new title in the Library in a Book series, serves as the ideal starting point for research on this hotly contested topic. Offering a dispassionate, even-handed overview, this book provides the latest summary of its legal, political, and social aspects, offering students and researchers an unbiased look at the subject. Coverage Includes: The history of legalized inequality in the United States, from the Civil War to the present; Various positions on the issue of affirmative action; Information on major arenas in which affirmative action plays a role, such as voting rights, college admissions, and employment; Key court cases, legislation, executive orders, and referendums on affirmative action; Brief biographies of key individuals involved in affirmative action, including activists, politicians, and legal scholars; A glossary of related political, legal, and other terms; A listing of organizations and agencies related to affirmative action; Detailed appendixes, including excerpts from key court cases.