Affirmative action is best described as which of the following?

• A. A policy that guarantees admission to every applicant
• B. A system that assigns admission solely by test score
• C. A method to guarantee admission to certain groups
• D. A set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination between applicants, remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future

Answer: (D)

Affirmative action is about actively promoting equal opportunity and correcting discrimination, not simply admitting everyone or relying only on test scores. It aims to remove unlawful barriers, address the effects of past discrimination, and put safeguards in place to prevent discrimination from happening again in the future. This makes the description that emphasizes eliminating discrimination, remedying its results, and preventing it in the future the best fit.

It’s not about guaranteeing admission to all applicants, nor about admitting based solely on test scores, nor about guaranteeing admission to specific groups. In practice, affirmative action can involve targeted outreach and consideration of diverse factors to broaden access while still operating within fair lending and fair housing laws.