Vocabulary — Faith & Ministry
Words are tools. This page holds every key word for this part of the school, drawn from the lessons themselves: how to spell each word, what it means in plain language, and one sentence to remember it by.
See every vocabulary page in this school
Affirmative action
Spells: Affirmative action
What it means: in this unit, race-conscious consideration in admissions or similar programs as debated and ruled on in Students for Fair Admissions (2023).
A sentence to remember it by: Affirmative action in admissions — what the Court held.
Business necessity
Spells: Business necessity
What it means: under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(k), the employer's required showing that a practice causing disparate impact is job related and consistent with business necessity.
A sentence to remember it by: Business necessity — under 42 U.S.C.
Coverage formula
Spells: Coverage formula
What it means: Voting Rights Act § 4(b): the statutory test that determined which jurisdictions were subject to § 5 preclearance, held unconstitutional in Shelby County .
A sentence to remember it by: § 10303 — the coverage formula held unconstitutional in Shelby County .
Discriminatory purpose
Spells: Discriminatory purpose
What it means: the intent to treat people differently because of race; required for a constitutional equal-protection claim after Washington v. Davis .
A sentence to remember it by: Supreme Court 1976) — discriminatory purpose required for a constitutional equal-protection claim.
Disparate impact
Spells: Disparate impact
What it means: a facially neutral practice's disproportionately adverse effect on a protected group; actionable under Title VII and the Fair Housing Act when the statutory tests are met.
A sentence to remember it by: Disparate Impact and the Reconstruction-Era Civil-Rights Statutes ***Griggs v.
Langar
Spells: L-a-n-g-a-r
What it means: the Sikh community kitchen serving free meals to all, seated together, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or status.
A sentence to remember it by: Langar — the Sikh community kitchen serving free meals to all, seated together, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or status.
Reparations
Spells: R-e-p-a-r-a-t-i-o-n-s
What it means: proposals or programs to repair documented harms of slavery and discrimination, as in Evanston's housing program and the California Task Force recommendations.
A sentence to remember it by: Reparations proposals — two documented examples.
Section 1981
Spells: S-e-c-t-i-o-n
What it means: 42 U.S.C. § 1981: the Reconstruction-era guarantee of the same right to make and enforce contracts as is enjoyed by white citizens.
A sentence to remember it by: Section 5 was not struck down and § 2 was not at issue.
Section 1983
Spells: S-e-c-t-i-o-n
What it means: 42 U.S.C. § 1983: a civil action against a person who, under color of state law, deprives another of constitutional or federal rights.
A sentence to remember it by: Section 5 was not struck down and § 2 was not at issue.
Strict scrutiny
Spells: S-t-r-i-c-t-s-c-r-u-t-i-n-y
What it means: the courts' hardest test for a government racial classification: a compelling interest, narrowly tailored.
Where you meet it: in the lesson “How Racism Is Fought” in this school.