set-aside

n.

1. Something, such as land or a certain percentage of profits, that is set aside for a specific purpose.
2. A federal program requiring that a certain percentage of government funds and contracts be reserved for businesses owned by women and members of minority groups.

Percentage of a job set aside for bidding to minority contractors. In the securities business, many municipal and some corporate bond underwritings require that a certain percentage of the offering be handled by a minority-owned broker/ dealer underwriting firm. Other government and corporate contracts for products and services also stipulate that a certain percentage of the business must be handled by minority firms. Set-aside programs are designed to help minority firms become established more quickly than they might if they had to compete on an equal footing with entrenched competitors.

1.  Separate and reserve for a special purpose, as in We have to set aside some chairs for latecomers. [Early 1700s] Also see set by.
2.  Discard or reject, as in Setting aside all health considerations, do you believe this law is fair to smokers? [Early 1400s]
3.  Declare invalid, annul, or overrule, as in The higher court set aside the conviction. [Mid-1700s] Also see lay aside.

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Set-Asides are a form of Affirmative Action used by governments in contracting government business; they include programs that typically designate a percentage of government contracts or funds (either for services or construction of public works) for minority-owned businesses. In 1977 Congress passed a law that directed 10 percent of federal public works funds to minority-controlled businesses, which the Public Works Employment Act defined as ones in which 50 percent of the business was held by African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Amer-Icans,Native Americans,

Eskimos, or Aleuts. In 2000, Federal Agencies purchased more than $13 billion in goods and services from minority-owned businesses as part of the program.

Like affirmative action programs generally, set-aside programs are controversial and have raised constitutional challenges. Opponents claim that such programs constitute reverse discrimination and are not cost-efficient because contracts go to businesses that may not have been the lowest or the most qualified bidder. Proponents believe that such programs help overcome the traditional economic disadvantages minorities have faced and promote economic development in minority communities. In 1995, the Supreme Court, ruling in Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, held that the Federal Government must be subject to the same "strict scrutiny" as state and local governments when attempting to remedy discrimination. However, what initially appeared to be a victory for the white owner of Adarand Construction was modified by the Clinton administration, which overhauled certain programs while leaving the minority-contracting program in place. Since then, the Adarand case has gone back to the Colorado court, through federal appeals courts, and back to the Supreme Court, which, in the fall of 2001, refused to rule on the merits of the case. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, numerous other challenges to the set-aside program were brewing in state courts.

Bibliography

Lassiter, Christo. "The New Race Cases and the Politics of Public Policy." Journal of Law and Politics 12 (1996): 411–458.

Orfield, Gary, ed. Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. Cambridge, Mass.: Civil Rights Project, Harvard University, 2001.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

To cancel, annul, or revoke a judgment or order.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - braklægning af landbrugsjord, jordudtagning, reserve

Nederlands (Dutch)
iets dat opzij gelegd is

Français (French)
n. - (Agric) gel des terres
adj. - mise de côté

Deutsch (German)
n. - Reservefonds, Brachlegen v. Feldern z. Abbau d. Überschusses
adj. - brachliegend

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αγρανάπαυση
adj. - σε αγρανάπαυση

Italiano (Italian)
messa in disparte

Português (Portuguese)
n. - coisa (f) separada
adj. - separado (m)

Русский (Russian)
государственные резервы

Español (Spanish)
n. - algo que se ha puesto de lado con un propósito especial, tierra que se ha puesto fuera de producción agrícola
adj. - separado

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - åsidosatt
adj. - förbigången, åsidosatt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
防止农产品过剩或稳定价格而让田地休耕, 政府给农民补贴的政策, 储备品, 获得补贴而休耕的土地

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 防止農產品過剩或穩定價格而讓田地休耕, 政府給農民補貼的政策, 儲備品, 獲得補貼而休耕的土地

한국어 (Korean)
n. - (식량 따위의) 사용 중지, 사용 중지량, 보류량

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 使用差止め, 保留, 使用差止め物

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مبلغ أو أراضي أو غيرها توضع جانبا لغرض معين (صفه) مهملا, مدخر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮הקצאה, צמצום השטחים המעובדים כדי להפחית עודפי-יבול‬

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