West v. Gibson, 527 U.S. 212, 3 (1999)

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214

WEST v. GIBSON

Opinion of the Court

Assistant Attorney General Ogden, Deputy Solicitor General Underwood, Marleigh D. Dover, and Steven I. Frank.

Timothy M. Kelly argued the cause and filed a brief for respondent.*

Justice Breyer delivered the opinion of the Court.

The question in this case is whether the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) possesses the legal authority to require federal agencies to pay compensatory damages when they discriminate in employment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 84 Stat. 121, 42 U. S. C. § 2000e et seq. We conclude that the EEOC does have that authority.

I

A

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids employment discrimination. In 1972 Congress extended Title VII so that it applies not only to employment in the private sector, but to employment in the Federal Government as well. See Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, 86 Stat. 111, 42 U. S. C. § 2000e-16. This 1972 Title VII extension, found in § 717 of Title VII, has three relevant subsections.

The first subsection, § 717(a), sets forth the basic Federal Government employment antidiscrimination standard. It says that

"[a]ll personnel actions affecting employees or applicants for employment [of specified Government agencies and departments] shall be made free from any discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin." 42 U. S. C. § 2000e-16(a).

*Mark D. Roth and Joseph F. Henderson filed a brief for the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, as amicus curiae urging reversal.

Edward H. Passman and Paula A. Brantner filed a brief for the National Employment Lawyers Association as amicus curiae.

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