Gratz v. Bollinger
Definition
A Supreme Court case decided in 2003 where it was ruled that a point-based system for undergraduate admissions that gave extra points to minority applicants was unconstitutional because it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Analogy
Imagine you're playing a board game where certain players get extra points just because they have blue eyes. That wouldn't be fair, right? Gratz v. Bollinger is like saying that everyone should start with the same number of points in the game, regardless their eye color (or race).
Related terms
Affirmative Action: A policy designed to increase opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups by considering factors such as race or gender during processes like college admissions.
Equal Protection Clause: Part of the 14th Amendment prohibiting states from denying any person within its jurisdiction equal protection under the law.
University of Michigan Law School Admissions Lawsuit (Grutter v. Bollinger): Another related Supreme Court case which upheld affirmative action, ruling that race could be considered as one factor among many in college admissions.
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