A) Civil Rights Act of 1964 CORRECT This is the correct answer because Executive Order 11246 was issued to enforce and expand the equal employment opportunity provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Act's Title VII prohibited employment discrimination, but it did not initially cover federal contractors. President Johnson's executive order filled this gap by requiring federal contractors to take affirmative action to ensure non-discrimination. This order was a direct response to the need for stronger enforcement of the Act's principles in the federal contracting sector. It also established the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to monitor compliance, further embedding the Act's goals into federal policy.
B) Voting Rights Act of 1965 INCORRECT The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a landmark law that prohibited racial discrimination in voting, but it is not the focus of Executive Order 11246. That executive order specifically addresses employment discrimination and affirmative action, not voting rights. While both laws were part of President Johnson's Great Society agenda, they target different areas of civil rights. The Voting Rights Act was enforced through federal oversight of voter registration and election procedures, not through employment regulations. Therefore, this option is incorrect because it does not align with the subject matter of the executive order.
C) Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 INCORRECT The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was signed into law by President Richard Nixon, not Lyndon Johnson, and it focuses on workplace safety and health standards, not equal employment opportunity. Executive Order 11246 predates this act by five years and deals exclusively with non-discrimination and affirmative action in federal contracting. The OSH Act established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enforce safety regulations, which is a separate concern from civil rights. Thus, this option is incorrect because it confuses two distinct areas of labor law.
D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 INCORRECT The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 is an environmental law that governs the disposal of solid and hazardous waste. It has no connection to employment discrimination or affirmative action. Executive Order 11246 was issued in 1965, well before this act, and its purpose was to enforce civil rights in the workplace. This option is clearly incorrect because it addresses a completely unrelated policy area, demonstrating a lack of understanding of the executive order's scope.
