Gratz v. Bollinger involved automatic points for race in University of Michigan admissions. The Court held this practice was unconstitutional. Which statement best describes the ruling?

Gratz v. Bollinger involved automatic points for race in University of Michigan admissions. The Court held this practice was unconstitutional. Which statement best describes the ruling?

• A. Automatic points for race are constitutional
• B. Automatic points for race are unconstitutional
• C. Race-based points must be used in all applicants
• D. Race cannot be considered at all

Answer: (B)

The ruling centers on how race can be used in admissions. The Court said that automatically awarding points based on race—a fixed 20-point boost for minority applicants—creates a de facto quota and is not narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling interest. Under equal protection, such a system fails strict scrutiny because it treats race as a shortcut rather than evaluating each applicant as an individual through a holistic review. Therefore, automatic points for race are unconstitutional. Choices that suggest automatic racial advantages are allowed, that race must be used for all applicants, or that race cannot be considered at all misstate how the Court allows race to be one factor in a careful, individualized admissions process.

The ruling centers on how race can be used in admissions. The Court said that automatically awarding points based on race—a fixed 20-point boost for minority applicants—creates a de facto quota and is not narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling interest. Under equal protection, such a system fails strict scrutiny because it treats race as a shortcut rather than evaluating each applicant as an individual through a holistic review. Therefore, automatic points for race are unconstitutional. Choices that suggest automatic racial advantages are allowed, that race must be used for all applicants, or that race cannot be considered at all misstate how the Court allows race to be one factor in a careful, individualized admissions process.