Executive Order 11478
Encyclopedia
Executive Order 11478, signed by U.S. President Richard M. Nixon on August 8, 1969, prohibited discrimination
in the competitive service
of the federal civilian workforce on certain grounds. The order was later amended to cover additional protected classes.
and civilian employees of the United States Armed Forces
. It prohibited discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, and age. It required all departments and agencies to take affirmative steps to promote employment opportunities for those classes it covered.
Executive Order 11478 assigned the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
responsibility for directing the implementation of the Order's policies and to issue rules to promote its principles. Agencies were in turn required to abide by those rules and produce any reports the EEOC required.
Following the release of Executive Order 11478, the Federal Women's Program (FWP) was integrated into the EEOC program and placed under the direction of EEOC for each agency.
The Federal Personnel Manual 713 was issued to carry out Executive Order 11478.
On May 28, 1998, President William J. Clinton
signed Executive Order 13087
, which amended Executive Order 11478 to add sexual orientation to the list of classes covered.
On May 2, 2000, Executive Order 13152 amended Executive Order 11478 to add "status as a parent" to the list of categories and defined that term in detail.
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
in the competitive service
Competitive service
The competitive service is a part of the United States federal government civil service. Applicants for jobs in the competitive civil service must compete with other applicants in open competition under the merit system administered by the Office of Personnel Management.According to U.S...
of the federal civilian workforce on certain grounds. The order was later amended to cover additional protected classes.
Provisions
Executive Order 11478 covered the federal civilian workforce, including the United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
and civilian employees of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. It prohibited discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, and age. It required all departments and agencies to take affirmative steps to promote employment opportunities for those classes it covered.
Executive Order 11478 assigned the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
responsibility for directing the implementation of the Order's policies and to issue rules to promote its principles. Agencies were in turn required to abide by those rules and produce any reports the EEOC required.
Following the release of Executive Order 11478, the Federal Women's Program (FWP) was integrated into the EEOC program and placed under the direction of EEOC for each agency.
The Federal Personnel Manual 713 was issued to carry out Executive Order 11478.
Amendments
On December 28, 1978, Executive Order 12106 amended Executive order 11478 to transfer certain functions of the Civil Service Commission to the EEOC.On May 28, 1998, President William J. Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
signed Executive Order 13087
Executive Order 13087
Executive Order 13087 was signed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on May 28, 1998, amending Executive Order 11478 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the competitive service of the federal civilian workforce. The order also applies to employees of the government of the District...
, which amended Executive Order 11478 to add sexual orientation to the list of classes covered.
On May 2, 2000, Executive Order 13152 amended Executive Order 11478 to add "status as a parent" to the list of categories and defined that term in detail.