Survey of Federal Laws Containing Goals, Set-Asides, Priorities, or Other Preferences Based on Race, Gender, or Ethnicity

Jody Feder
Legislative Attorney

Kate M. Manuel
Legislative Attorney

Julia Taylor
Law Librarian

This report provides a broad, but by no means exhaustive, survey of federal statutes that specifically refer to race, gender, or ethnicity as factors to be considered in the administration of any federal program. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, goals, timetables, setasides, quotas, priorities, and preferences, as those terms are generally (however imperfectly) understood. Based on searches of the LEXIS/NEXIS and WESTLAW legal databases using a variety of search strategies, the compilation seeks to be as comprehensive as possible. With certain noted exceptions, the report collectively describes those statutes found during the course of our research that appear, in any manner, to prefer or consider race, gender, or ethnicity as affirmative factors in federal employment, in the award of federal contracts, or in granting any federal benefit to individuals, groups, or institutions. Several laws directed to “socially and economically disadvantaged” individuals, groups, and institutions are included because, as more fully explained by the report, that term has been defined administratively and by statute to presumptively apply to specific racial or ethnic minorities or women.


Date of Report: October 1, 2010
Number of Pages: 38
Order Number: R41038
Price: $29.95

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