Rostker v. Goldberg addressed whether whom could be required to register for the draft?

Rostker v. Goldberg addressed whether whom could be required to register for the draft?

• A. Whether women can serve in combat roles
• B. Whether men must register for the draft while women are exempt
• C. Whether the draft violates the First Amendment
• D. Whether the President can issue a national emergency draft

Answer: (B)

Rostker v. Goldberg tests how the draft can be structured when gender distinctions are involved. The Court held that it is constitutional to require only men to register for a potential draft, while women are exempt. The key idea is that the draft’s purpose is tied to selecting people for combat roles, and at the time women were barred from combat assignments. Because the military’s planning and manpower needs depended on having a pool of male draftees, Congress could justify a male-only registration as a legitimate way to meet those needs. This ruling focuses on who must register rather than on whether women can serve in combat or on broader constitutional rights.

Rostker v. Goldberg tests how the draft can be structured when gender distinctions are involved. The Court held that it is constitutional to require only men to register for a potential draft, while women are exempt. The key idea is that the draft’s purpose is tied to selecting people for combat roles, and at the time women were barred from combat assignments. Because the military’s planning and manpower needs depended on having a pool of male draftees, Congress could justify a male-only registration as a legitimate way to meet those needs. This ruling focuses on who must register rather than on whether women can serve in combat or on broader constitutional rights.