摘 要 本文之目的，是要對美國過去四十多年來推動就業上積極行動方案之相關措 施及所引發之爭議等，做一整體之說明，並詳析其利弊得失，以供我國在採行類 似制度時參考攻錯之用。除序言及結語外，全文共分六個部分：第一部分說明該 國建構此一制度之重要法源依據，尤其是幾項相關制定法及總統行政命令之內 容。第二部分探討此類方案之重要類型及具體實施方式。第三部分依判決日期之 先後，分析聯邦最高法院早期對此一制度之態度。第四部分說明此一制度所引發 之反向歧視爭議、聯邦最高法院對此一問題之立場，以及國會之反應措施等。第 五部分討論聯邦最高法院近期內對此一制度之三則相關判決，除敘述這些案件之 重要事實及聯邦各下級法院之判決外，並探討各大法官之贊成及反對意見，藉以 瞭解爭點之所在。最後，本文試對美國此一制度之利弊得失做一整體之評析，並 說明其可供我國參考借鏡之處。

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to offer an overall assessment and discussion on the efforts made by the United States through affirmative action programs in eliminating discrimination. The main contents of the paper are divided into six sections. Section One describes the legal sources for establishing affirmative action programs, related statutes and executive orders issued by presidents. Section Two analyzes important examples of these programs and the methods of their implementation. Section Three discusses several important initial decisions rendered by the Supreme Court in this regard. Section Four mentions the so-called “reverse-discrimination” concept arising from affirmative action programs or plans, the Supreme Court’s responses and the countermeasures offered by Congress. Section Five details three new decisions ruled by the Supreme Court in order to emphasize the recent controversies caused by these programs. Finally, Section Six makes an overall evaluation of this system, including its merits, shortcomings and controversies in the United States and discusses whether the American experience in this field can provide any lessons for Taiwan given its recent endeavors to implement its own anti-discrimination legal system.