T he term describes proactive steps taken by the government or the private sector to create a more diverse work force.
Colleges use affirmative action plans to diversify their student bodies.
While anti-discrimination laws may aim at the same results, they aren't technically considered affirmative action and are not being targeted for elimination. Other forms of affirmative action include active recruiting of minorities and women, and stressing the use of benefits, such as continuing education, to improve their skills. The Congressional Research Service earlier this year turned up 160 federal laws and regulations setting affirmative action goals or other preferences based on race, gender or ethnicity. Many private employers and some state and local governments also have affirmative action plans. The federal government can use the power of the purse to deny contracts to employers who don't diversify their work forces, and can deny federal funds to colleges and universities that don't broaden their student populations.