Overview: The U.S. Civil Rights Commission

New Commission is Suspicious of Racial Discrimination Policies which Favor Some Groups but Not Others

In 2005 and 2006 the United States Commission on Civil Rights has held several hearings regarding racial preferences (race-sensitive policies, or "quotas"). They have found that such "race sensitive" policies not only do not work, but frequently also work against the intended beneficiaries. Below is a short list of recent Commission hearings and the available Commission reports:

*DATE:*	*COMMISSION SUBJECT:*	*STATUS:*
June 16, 2006	Affirmative Action in Law Schools (USCCR HEARING TRANSCRIPT)	Hearing Transcript (NEWS Clippings Available)
May 2006	Disparity Studies as Evidence of Discrimination in Federal Contracting (USCCR REPORT AVAILABLE)	Published (link)
Aug. 5, 2005	Federal Procurement After Adarand (USCCR REPORT AVAILABLE)	Published (link)

In Disparity Studies as Evidence of Discrimination the Commission's expert panelists were extremely critical of the statistical validity -- or invalidity -- of disparity studies as a means of "proving" that racial quotas or preferences are necessary in government contracting efforts. (Official Commission Report Available)

In Federal Procurement After Adarand the Commission strongly condemned government contracting agencies for failing to fully consider race neutral means of assuring equal treatment of all government contractors without resorting to the last resort method of imposing racial preferences or quotas. (Official Commission Report Available)

In Affirmative Action in Law Schools the Commission heard compelling testimony from UCLA Law Professor Richard Sander in which he presented damning evidence that racial quotas in law school admissions actually hurt the chances of black law school students. (Official report not yet published. See Hearing Transcript and also News Clippings)

The Mission of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
-- quoted from the U.S. CCR official web site

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MISSION:

To investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices.

To study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

To appraise federal laws and policies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.

To serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

Official Web Site:

Visit the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Web Site
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To submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress.

To issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws.