washington davis argued march decided june respondents harley sellers negroes hereinafter respondents whose applications become police officers district columbia rejected action district columbia officials petitioners others claimed police department recruiting procedures including written personnel test test racially discriminatory violated due process clause fifth amendment code test administered generally prospective government employees determine whether applicants acquired particular level verbal skill respondents contended test bore relationship job performance excluded disproportionately high number negro applicants focusing solely test parties filed summary judgment district noting absence claim intentional discrimination found respondents evidence supporting motion warranted conclusions number black police officers substantial proportionate city population mix higher percentage blacks fail test whites test validated establish reliability measuring subsequent job performance showing sufficed shift burden proof defendants action concluded respondents entitled relief granted petitioners motion summary judgment view facts new police recruits black figure proportionate blacks total force equal number blacks recruiting area police department affirmatively sought recruit blacks many passed test failed report duty test useful indicator training school performance precluding need show validation terms job performance designed discriminate otherwise qualified blacks respondents appeal contended summary judgment motion based solely contention test invidiously discriminated negroes violation fifth amendment granted appeals reversed directed summary judgment favor respondents applied constitutional issue statutory standards enunciated griggs duke power held title vii civil rights act amended prohibits use tests operate exclude members minority groups unless employer demonstrates procedures substantially related job performance held lack discriminatory intent enactment administration test irrelevant critical fact four times many blacks whites failed test disproportionate impact sufficed establish constitutional violation absent proof petitioners test adequately measured job performance held appeals erred resolving fifth amendment issue applying standards applicable title vii cases pp though due process clause fifth amendment contains equal protection component prohibiting government invidious discrimination follow law official act unconstitutional solely racially disproportionate impact regardless whether reflects racially discriminatory purpose pp constitution prevent government seeking test modestly upgrade communicative abilities employees rather satisfied lower level competence particularly job requires special abilities communicate orally writing respondents negroes ascribe failure pass test denial equal protection whites also failed pp disproportionate impact test neutral face warrant conclusion test purposely discriminatory device facts district properly held inference discrimination unwarranted rigorous statutory standard title vii involves probing judicial review less deference seemingly reasonable acts administrators executives appropriate constitution case special racial impact discriminatory purpose claimed extension statutory standard await legislative prescription pp statutory standards similar obtaining title vii also satisfied district conclusion test directly related requirements police training program positive relationship test program sufficient validate test wholly aside possible relationship actual performance police officer fully supported record case remand establish validation appropriate pp white delivered opinion burger blackmun powell rehnquist stevens joined parts ii stewart joined stevens filed concurring opinion post brennan filed dissenting opinion marshall joined post david sutton argued cause petitioners briefs francis murphy louis robbins richard barton richard sobol argued cause respondents harley et al briefs george cooper richard seymour marian wright edelman michael trister ralph temple mark evans argued cause commissioners civil service commission respondents rule brief solicitor general bork assistant attorney general lee ronald glancz harry silver lawrence ashe susan cahoon filed brief executive committee division psychology div american psychological assn amicus curiae urging reversal jack greenberg james nabrit iii charles stephen ralston barry goldstein deborah greenberg eric schnapper peter sherwood filed brief naacp legal defense educational fund amicus curiae urging affirmance briefs amici curiae filed thaddeus holt american society personnel administration howard willens deanne siemer john kramer educational testing service justice white delivered opinion case involves validity qualifying test administered applicants positions police officers district columbia metropolitan police department test sustained district invalidated appeals agreement district hence reverse judgment appeals action began april two negro police officers filed suit commissioner district columbia chief district metropolitan police department commissioners civil service commission amended complaint filed december alleged promotion policies department racially discriminatory sought declaratory judgment injunction respondents harley sellers permitted intervene amended complaint asserting applications become officers department rejected department recruiting procedures discriminated basis race black applicants series practices including limited written personnel test excluded disproportionately high number negro applicants practices asserted violate respondents rights due process clause fifth amendment constitution code defendants answered discovery various proceedings followed respondents filed motion partial summary judgment respect recruiting phase case seeking declaration test administered applying become police officers unlawfully discriminatory thereby violation due process clause fifth amendment issue statute regulation raised motion district columbia defendants petitioners federal parties also filed motions summary judgment respect recruiting aspects case asserting respondents entitled relief neither constitutional statutory grounds district granted petitioners denied respondents motions supp dc according findings conclusions district accepted department enter intensive training program police recruit required satisfy certain physical character standards high school graduate equivalent receive grade least test examination used generally throughout federal service developed civil service commission police department designed test verbal ability vocabulary reading comprehension validity test sole issue motions summary judgment district noted claim intentional discrimination purposeful discriminatory acts claim test bore relationship job performance highly discriminatory impact screening black candidates ibid respondents evidence district said warranted three conclusions number black police officers substantial proportionate population mix city higher percentage blacks fail test whites test validated establish reliability measuring subsequent job performance ibid showing deemed sufficient shift burden proof defendants action petitioners nevertheless concluded undisputed facts respondents entitled relief district relied several factors since august new police force recruits black figure also represented proportion blacks total force roughly equivalent blacks radius recruiting efforts police department concentrated undisputed department systematically affirmatively sought enroll black officers many passed test failed report duty district rejected assertion test culturally slanted favor whites satisfied undisputable facts prove test reasonably directly related requirements police recruit training program neither designed operates sic discriminate otherwise qualified blacks thus necessary show test useful indicator training school performance also validated terms job performance lack job performance validation defeat test given direct relationship recruiting valid part plays process ibid district ultimately concluded proof wholly lacking police officer qualifies color skin rather ability department required showing lower standards abandon efforts achieve excellence lost constitutional statutory issues district respondents brought case appeals claiming summary judgment motion rested purely constitutional grounds granted tendered constitutional issue whether use test invidiously discriminated negroes hence denied due process law contrary commands fifth amendment appeals addressing issue announced guided griggs duke power case involving interpretation application title vii civil rights act held statutory standards elucidated case govern due process question tendered one app went declare lack discriminatory intent designing administering test irrelevant critical fact rather far greater proportion blacks four times many failed test whites disproportionate impact standing alone without regard whether indicated discriminatory purpose held sufficient establish constitutional violation absent proof petitioners test adequate measure job performance addition indicator probable success training program burden ruled petitioners failed discharge department made substantial efforts recruit blacks held beside point fact racial distribution recent hirings department might roughly equivalent racial makeup surrounding community broadly conceived put aside comparison material appeal appeals dissent accordingly reversed judgment district directed respondents motion partial summary judgment granted granted petition certiorari filed district columbia officials ii appeals erroneously applied legal standards applicable title vii cases resolving constitutional issue reverse judgment respondents favor although petition certiorari present ground reversal rule provides may notice plain error presented appropriate occasion invoke rule appeals understood title vii employees applicants proceeding need concern employer possibly discriminatory purpose instead may focus solely racially differential impact challenged hiring promotion practices constitutional rule never held constitutional standard adjudicating claims invidious racial discrimination identical standards applicable title vii decline today central purpose equal protection clause fourteenth amendment prevention official conduct discriminating basis race also true due process clause fifth amendment contains equal protection component prohibiting invidiously discriminating individuals groups bolling sharpe cases embraced proposition law official act without regard whether reflects racially discriminatory purpose unconstitutional solely racially disproportionate impact almost years ago strauder west virginia established exclusion negroes grand petit juries criminal proceedings violated equal protection clause fact particular jury series juries statistically reflect racial composition community make invidious discrimination forbidden clause purpose discriminate must present may proven systematic exclusion eligible jurymen proscribed race unequal application law extent show intentional discrimination akins texas defendant criminal case entitled require state deliberately systematically deny members race right participate jurors administration justice alexander louisiana see also carter jury cassell texas patton mississippi rule contexts wright rockefeller upheld new york congressional apportionment statute claims district lines racially gerrymandered challenged districts made predominantly whites minority races boundaries irregularly drawn challengers prevail failed prove new york legislature either motivated racial considerations fact drew districts racial lines plaintiffs shown statute product state contrivance segregate basis race place origin dissenters agreement issue whether boundaries purposefully drawn racial lines school desegregation cases also adhered basic equal protection principle invidious quality law claimed racially discriminatory must ultimately traced racially discriminatory purpose predominantly black predominantly white schools community alone violative equal protection clause essential element de jure segregation current condition segregation resulting intentional state action keyes school dist differentiating factor de jure segregation de facto segregation purpose intent segregate see also also recently rejected allegations racial discrimination based solely statistically disproportionate racial impact various provisions social security act acceptance appellants constitutional theory render suspect difference treatment among grant classes however lacking racial motivation however otherwise rational treatment might jefferson hackney compare hunter erickson james valtierra say necessary discriminatory racial purpose must express appear face statute law disproportionate impact irrelevant cases involving claims racial discrimination statute otherwise neutral face must applied invidiously discriminate basis race yick wo hopkins also clear cases dealing racial discrimination selection juries systematic exclusion negroes unequal application law show intentional discrimination akins texas supra smith texas pierre louisiana neal delaware prima facie case discriminatory purpose may proved well absence negroes particular jury combined failure jury commissioners informed eligible negro jurors community hill texas racially selection procedures alexander louisiana supra avery georgia whitus georgia prima facie case made burden proof shifts state rebut presumption unconstitutional action showing permissible racially neutral selection criteria procedures produced monochromatic result alexander supra see also turner fouche eubanks louisiana necessarily invidious discriminatory purpose may often inferred totality relevant facts including fact true law bears heavily one race another also infrequently true discriminatory impact jury cases example total seriously disproportionate exclusion negroes jury venires may practical purposes demonstrate unconstitutionality various circumstances discrimination difficult explain nonracial grounds nevertheless held law neutral face serving ends otherwise within power government pursue invalid equal protection clause simply may affect greater proportion one race another disproportionate impact irrelevant sole touchstone invidious racial discrimination forbidden constitution standing alone trigger rule mclaughlin florida racial classifications subjected strictest scrutiny justifiable weightiest considerations indications contrary cases palmer thompson city jackson following decree effect desegregated public facilities save five swimming pools operated city following decree closed ordinance pursuant determination city council closure necessary preserve peace order integrated pools economically operated accepting finding pools closed avoid violence economic loss rejected argument abandonment service inconsistent outstanding desegregation decree otherwise seemingly permissible ends served ordinance impeached demonstrating racially invidious motivations prompted city council action holding city overtly covertly operating segregated pools extending identical treatment whites negroes opinion warned grounding decision legislative purpose motivation thereby lending support proposition operative effect law rather purpose paramount factor holding case legitimate purposes ordinance preserve peace avoid deficits open impeachment evidence actually motivated racial considerations whatever dicta opinion may contain decision involve much less invalidate statute ordinance neutral purposes disproportionate racial consequences wright council city emporia also indicates proper circumstances racial impact law rather discriminatory purpose critical factor case involved division school district issue whether division consistent outstanding order federal desegregate dual school system found existed area constitutional predicate district invalidation divided district enforcement racial segregation public school system emporia always part thus need find independent constitutional violation ibid citing palmer thompson agreed district division district effect interfering federal decree set aside neither palmer wright understood changed prevailing rule apparent keyes school dist supra principal issue litigation whether extent purposeful discrimination resulting partially wholly segregated school system later cases alexander louisiana supra jefferson hackney supra indicate either palmer wright worked fundamental change equal protection law palmer thompson however various courts appeals held several contexts including public employment substantially disproportionate racial impact statute official practice standing alone without regard discriminatory purpose suffices prove racial discrimination violating equal protection clause absent justification going substantially beyond necessary validate legislative classifications cases impressively demonstrate another side issue due respect extent cases rested expressed view proof discriminatory racial purpose unnecessary making equal protection violation disagreement initial matter difficulty understanding law establishing racially neutral qualification employment nevertheless racially discriminatory denies person equal protection laws simply greater proportion negroes fail qualify members racial ethnic groups respondents along others failed test whether white black brought action claiming test denied equal protection laws compared passed high enough scores qualify police recruits unlikely challenge sustained test administered generally prospective government employees concededly seeks ascertain whether take acquired particular level verbal skill untenable constitution prevents government seeking modestly upgrade communicative abilities employees rather satisfied lower level competence particularly job requires special ability communicate orally writing respondents negroes successfully claim test denied equal protection white applicants also failed conclusion different face proof negroes whites disqualified test negroes also failed score well alone demonstrate respondents individually denied equal protection laws application otherwise valid qualifying test administered prospective police recruits facts case us disproportionate impact test warrant conclusion purposeful device discriminate negroes hence infringement constitutional rights respondents well black applicants said test neutral face rationally may said serve purpose government constitutionally empowered pursue even agreeing district differential racial effect test called inquiry think district correctly held affirmative efforts metropolitan police department recruit black officers changing racial composition recruit classes force general relationship test training program negated inference department discriminated basis race police officer qualifies color skin rather ability title vii congress provided hiring promotion practices disqualifying substantially disproportionate numbers blacks challenged discriminatory purpose need proved insufficient response demonstrate rational basis challenged practices necessary addition validated terms job performance one several ways perhaps ascertaining minimum skill ability potential necessary position issue determining whether qualifying tests appropriate selection qualified applicants job question however process proceeds involves probing judicial review less deference seemingly reasonable acts administrators executives appropriate constitution special racial impact without discriminatory purpose claimed disposed adopt rigorous standard purposes applying fifth fourteenth amendments cases rule statute designed serve neutral ends nevertheless invalid absent compelling justification practice benefits burdens one race another far reaching raise serious questions perhaps invalidate whole range tax welfare public service regulatory licensing statutes may burdensome poor average black affluent white given rule consequences perhaps likely follow however view extension rule beyond areas already applicable reason statute field public employment await legislative prescription indicated error direct summary judgment respondents based fifth amendment iii also hold appeals affirmed judgment district granting motions summary judgment filed petitioners federal parties respondents entitled relief neither constitutional statutory grounds submission defendants district test complied applicable statutory well constitutional requirements appear disputed statutes regulations governing conduct standards similar obtaining title vii satisfied district also assumed title vii standards control case identified determinative issue whether test sufficiently job related proceeded uphold use test directly related determination whether applicant possesses sufficient skills requisite demands curriculum recruit must master police academy appeals reversed relationship test training school success demonstrated satisfy deemed crucial requirement direct relationship performance test performance policeman job agree petitioners federal parties error advisability police recruit training course informing recruit upcoming job acquainting demands attempting impart modicum required skills seems conceded also apparent us district judge minimum verbal communicative skill useful essential satisfactory progress training regimen based evidence district judge concluded test directly related requirements police training program positive relationship test performance sufficient validate former wholly aside possible relationship actual performance police officer conclusion district judge validation may sufficient supported regulations civil service commission opinion evidence placed district judge current views civil service commissioners parties case conclusion foreclosed either griggs albemarle paper moody seems us much sensible construction requirement district accompanying conclusion test fact directly related requirements police training program supported validation study well evidence record convinced conclusion erroneous federal parties whose views somewhat changed since decision appeals still insist validation sufficient urge remand district purpose inquiry whether test scores found correlate test scores appropriate measure trainee mastership material taught course whether training program sufficiently related actual performance police officer task think remand inappropriate district judgment warranted record perceive good reason reopen particularly since informed oral argument although test still administered training program undergone substantial modification course litigation deficiencies recruiting practices prevailing title vii standards deficiencies directly addressed accordance appropriate procedures mandated title judgment appeals accordingly reversed ordered footnotes title provides persons within jurisdiction shall right every state territory make enforce contracts sue parties give evidence full equal benefit laws proceedings security persons property enjoyed white citizens shall subject like punishment pains penalties taxes licenses exactions every kind program recruitment hiring individuals fill positions government district columbia officer employee government district columbia shall exclude give preference residents district columbia state basis residence religion race color national origin competitive service examinations president may prescribe rules shall provide nearly conditions good administration warrant open competitive examinations testing applicants appointment competitive service practical character far possible relate matters fairly test relative capacity fitness applicants appointment sought noncompetitive examinations competent applicants compete notice given existence vacancy proceedings included hearing respondents motion order designating case class action ruling motion held abeyance never granted insofar record us reveals support motion petitioners federal parties urged compliance applicable constitutional statutory regulatory provisions including provisions civil service act since said established job relatedness standard employment summary judgment granted case respect discriminatory promotions still pending district however made determination direction authorized fed rule civ proc promotion issue subsequently decided adversely original plaintiffs davis washington supp dc although appellants complaint allege violation title vii civil rights act inapplicable federal government decisions applying title vii furnish additional instruction legal standard governing issues raised case many decisions disposing employment discrimination claims constitutional grounds made distinction constitutional standard statutory standard title vii app civil service commissioners defendants district petition writ certiorari filed brief respondents see rule shall times refer federal parties apparently disputing applicability griggs title vii standards resolving case petitioners presented issues going whether griggs duke power misapplied appeals see silber carpenters sibbach wilson mahler eby weems although title vii standards dominated case statute applicable federal employees complaint filed although amendments extending title reach government employees adopted prior district judgment complaint amended state claim title case thereafter proceed title vii case respondents motion partial summary judgment filed amendments rested solely constitutional grounds appeals ruled motion granted oral argument respondents counsel asked whether purely title vii case comes us appeals without constitutional overtones counsel responded trouble honestly proposition procedural requirements get title vii case met tr oral arg extent palmer suggests generally applicable proposition legislative purpose irrelevant constitutional adjudication prior cases indicated text contrary shortly palmer members majority case joined opinion lemon kurtzman dealt issue public financing private schools announced several times validity public aid schools includes close inquiry purpose challenged statute cases dealing public employment include chance board examiners castro beecher bridgeport guardians bridgeport civil service harper mayor baltimore supp md aff pertinent part sub nom harper kloster douglas hampton app cf tyler vickery cert pending also district cases wade mississippi cooperative extension supp nd miss arnold ballard supp nd ohio city chicago supp nd fowler schwarzwalder supp rev grounds contexts norwalk core norwalk redevelopment agency urban renewal kennedy park homes assn city lackawanna cert denied zoning southern alameda spanish speaking organization union city dictum zoning metropolitan village arlington heights cert granted zoning gautreaux romney dictum public housing crow brown supp nd aff public housing hawkins town shaw aff rehearing en banc municipal services appears beyond doubt single method appropriately validating employment tests relationship job performance professional standards developed american psychological association standards educational psychological tests manuals accept three basic methods validation empirical criterion validity demonstrated identifying criteria indicate successful job performance correlating test scores criteria identified construct validity demonstrated examinations structured measure degree job applicants identifiable characteristics determined important successful job performance content validity demonstrated tests whose content closely approximates tasks performed job applicant standards relied upon equal employment opportunity commission fashioning guidelines employee selection procedures cfr pt judicially noted cases validation employment tests issue see albemarle paper moody douglas hampton app vulcan society civil service goodman de facto school segregation constitutional empirical analysis rev suggests analysis might invalidate tests qualifications voting draft deferment public employment jury service benefits opportunities ales taxes bail schedules utility rates bridge tolls license fees charges also argued minimum wage usury laws well professional licensing requirements require major modifications light rule silverman equal protection economic legislation racial discrimination vand rev see also demsetz minorities market place rev memorandum supporting motion summary judgment federal parties argued griggs supra set standard private sector employers standard federal employment since passage civil service act act congress mandated federal government must use examinations testing applicants appointment far possible relate matters fairly test relative capacity fitness applicants appointments sought defendants contend following standards griggs supra past years virtue enactment civil service act guaranteed open fair competition jobs see infra current instructions civil service commission examining testing standards employment practices provide pertinent part use applicant appraisal procedures policy commission staff develops uses applicant appraisal procedures assess knowledges skills abilities persons jobs persons abstract appraisal procedures designed reflect real reasonable necessary qualifications effective job behavior appraisal procedure must among requirements demonstrable rational relationship important performance objectives identified management effective job performance capability success training reduced turnover job satisfaction fed reg record includes validation study test relationship performance recruit training program study made futransky standards division bureau policies standards civil service commission app findings study included data support ing conclusion est effective selecting trainees learn material taught recruit school opinion evidence submitted qualified experts examining futransky study conducting research affirmed correlation scores test success training program affidavit donald schwartz personnel research psychologist civil service commission app opinion test significant positive correlation success mpd recruit school blacks whites therefore shown job related affidavit diane wilson personnel research psychologist civil service commission app opinion direct rational relationship content difficulty test successful completion recruit school training appeals willing assume purposes appeal appellees shown test predictive progress recruit school app justice stevens concurring agree disposition case add comments constitutional issue discussed part ii statutory issue discussed part iii opinion requirement purposeful discrimination common thread running cases summarized part ii cases include criminal convictions set aside blacks excluded grand jury reapportionment case political boundaries obviously influenced extent racial considerations school desegregation case case involving unequal administration ordinance purporting prohibit operation laundries frame buildings although may proper use language describe constitutional claim contexts burden proving prima facie case may well involve differing evidentiary considerations extent deference one pays trial determination factual issue indeed extent one characterizes intent issue question fact question law vary different contexts frequently probative evidence intent objective evidence actually happened rather evidence describing subjective state mind actor normally actor presumed intended natural consequences deeds particularly true case governmental action frequently product compromise collective decisionmaking mixed motivation unrealistic one hand require victim alleged discrimination uncover actual subjective intent decisionmaker conversely invalidate otherwise legitimate action simply improper motive affected deliberation participant decisional process law conscripting clerics invalidated atheist voted point making observation suggest line discriminatory purpose discriminatory impact nearly bright perhaps quite critical reader opinion might assume agree course constitutional issue arise every time disproportionate impact shown hand disproportion dramatic gomillion lightfoot yick wo hopkins really matter whether standard phrased terms purpose effect therefore although accept statement general rule opinion yet prepared indicate standard applied many cases formulated governing standard different language agreement conclusion reached part ii opinion rests ground narrower describes rely evidence efforts recruit black police officers judgment neither efforts subjective good faith district administration save test otherwise invalid two reasons convinced challenge test insufficient first test serves neutral legitimate purpose requiring applicants meet uniform minimum standard literacy reading ability manifestly relevant police function evidence required passing grade set arbitrarily high level sufficient disparity among high schools high school graduates justify use separate uniform test second test used throughout federal service applicants employment district columbia police department represent small fraction total number persons taken test experience minimal probative value assessing neutrality test evidence without sufficient overcome presumption test widely used federal government fact neutral effect well purpose term used constitutional adjudication study statutory issue leads conclusion reached part iii opinion since appeals set aside portion district summary judgment granting defendants motion agree ignore statutory claims even though makes clear ante title vii question case actual statutory holdings limited district columbia code regulations equal employment opportunity commission direct application parties argued case though title vii standards applicable general way standards shed light issues sufficient individuality complexity statute regulations promulgated make inappropriate simply transplant standards entirety different statutory scheme different history moreover subject matter case validity qualifications law enforcement profession one federal district judges greater expertise many others therefore regard case district required apply title vii standards strictly necessary either contexts litigation actually arising statute specific holding question contains believe two components first matter law permissible police department use test purpose predicting ability master training program even test otherwise predict ability perform job regard reasonable proposition inconsistent prior holdings although prior language obviously contemplate precise problem second matter fact district finding correlation success test success training program sufficient evidentiary support withstand attack clearly erroneous standard mandated fed rule civ proc whether made finding fact opinion evidence identified opinion indeed assumption made appeals quoted therein surely adequate support finding proper standard appellate review understanding nothing said inconsistent reasoning join opinion except extent expresses opinion merits cases cited ante specifically express opinion merits cases listed opinion justice brennan justice marshall joins dissenting holds job qualification examination test given district columbia metropolitan police department unlawfully discriminate basis race either constitutional statutory standards initially seems pass statutory questions presented case says respondents summary judgment motion rested purely constitutional grounds ante appeals erroneously applied legal standards applicable title vii cases resolving constitutional issue ante suggestion however petitioners entitled prevail met burden proof imposed ante understand opinion therefore holds test job related necessarily title vii provision analysis case title vii respondents complaint asserted claim ante cf ante plain error appeals apply statutory standard case asserts ante unfortunate recognize also plain error address statutory issues part iii opinion nevertheless although appears unnecessary reach statutory questions accept conclusion respondents entitled summary judgment correct statutory arguments affirm appeals petitioners failed prove test satisfies applicable statutory standards parties arguments lower decisions based title vii standards context think wrong focus exclusion title vii standards particularly civil service commission views standards title vii identical see also infra applying title vii test district appeals held respondents offered sufficient evidence discriminatory impact shift petitioners burden proving job relatedness supp app question rulings issue us petitioners required show whether carried burden agrees district conclusion test validated positive relationship test scores performance police training courses result based upon reading record interpretation instructions governing testing practices issued civil service commission csc current views civil service commissioners parties case also assured today result foreclosed griggs duke power albemarle paper moody finally asserts conclusion much sensible construction requirement ante csc instructions cited support district conclusion importantly brief filed csc takes position petitioners satisfy burden proof imposed csc guidelines also appears longstanding regulations equal employment opportunity commission eeoc previously endorsed require result contrary reached furthermore conclusion inconsistent understanding interpretation title vii griggs albemarle find conclusion much sensible respect suggest today decision potential significantly weakening statutory safeguards discrimination employment october csc issued supplement federal personnel manual containing instructions compliance general regulations concerning employment practices provision cited requires test demonstrable rational relationship important performance objectives identified management success training one example possible objective statistical correlation established futransky validity study ante applicants scores test recruits average scores final examinations given police training course hornbook law accord deference construction administrative regulation construction made administrative authority responsible regulation udall tallman worthy note therefore brief filed csc case interprets instructions manner directly contrary despite claim result supported commissioners current views civil service commission regulations current professional standards governing test validation procedures entrance examination may demonstrated proof scores examination predict properly measured success training regardless whether predict success job documentary evidence submitted district demonstrates scores test predictive recruit school final averages little evidence however concerning relationship recruit school tests substance training program substance training program job police officer determined therefore whether recruit school final averages proper measure success training whether training program brief csc emphasis added proof scores entrance examination predict scores training school achievement tests however satisfy burden demonstrating entrance examination must also evidence nature depend particular circumstances case showing achievement test scores appropriate measure trainee mastery material taught training program training program imparts new employee knowledge skills abilities required performance job csc standards thus recognize test validated correlation test scores recruits averages training examinations training averages predict job performance averages proved measure performance training proof recruits average correlated job performance completion training see infra although positive relationship recruits average might sufficient validate test average proved reflect mastery material training curriculum turn demonstrated relevant job performance record devoid proof regard first demonstration petitioners examinations measure comprehension training curriculum indeed examinations even appear record furthermore futransky study simply designated average examination good performance assumed recruit average learned material taught training course without proof significance score none record agree test predictive success training ii today decision also odds eeoc regulations issued pursuant explicit authorization title vii although dispute case within eeoc jurisdiction noted proper construction title vii nevertheless relevant moreover extension title vii public employees gave substantive protection employees previously accorded private sector morton mancari therefore improper maintain different standards public private sectors chandler roudebush see supra agency regulations construction statute agency charged administration entitled great deference trafficante metropolitan life ins udall tallman power reactor electricians deference due pertinent eeoc regulations enhanced fact neither altered disapproved congress extensively amended title vii chemehuevi tribe indians fpc cammarano allen grand central aircraft massachusetts mut life ins principles followed albemarle explicitly endorsed various regulations fewer eight times opinion griggs eeoc regulations require validity job qualification test proved empirical data demonstrating test predictive significantly correlated important elements work behavior comprise relevant job jobs candidates evaluated cfr construction title vii approved albemarle quoted provision remarked message guidelines griggs case regulations also set forth minimum standards validation delineate criteria may used purpose work behaviors criteria employee adequacy test intended predict identify must fully described additionally case rating techniques appraisal form instructions rater must included part validation evidence criteria may include measures actual work proficiency training time supervisory ratings regularity attendance tenure whatever criteria used must represent major critical work behaviors revealed careful job analyses cfr measure validity test standard submit bound petitioners proof deficient number ways similar noted first criterion final training examination averages appear fully described although record contains general discussion training curriculum examinations record evidence completely elucidating subject matter tested training examinations without required description determine whether correlation training examination averages sufficiently related petitioners need ascertain ability see albemarle second eeoc regulations expressly permit validation correlation training performance unlike csc instructions among specified criteria closest training performance training time recruits metropolitan police department however go training course amount time including experience difficulty see supra third final requirement met job analysis establishing significance scores training examinations type evidence showing scores major critical importance accordingly eeoc regulations previously approved set forth construction title vii distinctly opposed today statutory result iii also says conclusion foreclosed griggs albemarle today result plainly conflicts cases griggs held employment practice operates exclude negroes shown related job performance practice prohibited emphasis added discriminatory impact shown employer carries burden proving challenged practice bear demonstrable relationship successful performance jobs used ibid emphasis added observed nothing act precludes use testing measuring procedures obviously useful congress forbidden giving devices mechanisms controlling force unless demonstrably reasonable measure job performance congress commanded tests used must measure person job person abstract may well circumstances proof relationship discriminatory qualification test training performance acceptable substitute establishing relationship job performance question settled resolved minimal analysis opinion moreover particularly inappropriate decide question record professionally acceptable methods apparently recognize validation proof correlation training performance rather job performance training curriculum includes information proved important job performance standard used measure training performance shown reflect trainees mastery material included training curriculum see brief csc brief executive committee division american psychological assn amicus curiae authority whether professional administrative judicial accepted sufficiency correlation training performance absence proof reasons stated record adequately establish either factor result conclusion squared focus job performance griggs albemarle even substitute showing reconcilable holdings cases today reduced emphasis relationship job performance also inconsistent clearly expressed congressional intent analysis amendments title vii follows area new law address areas specific contrary intention indicated assumed present case law developed courts continue govern applicability construction title vii cong rec finally observed every federal except district case presented proof identical offered validate test reached conclusion directly opposite today sound policy considerations support view minimum petitioners required prove police training examinations either measure skills predict job performance employers try validate written qualification tests proving correlation written examinations training course substantial danger people good verbal skills achieve high scores tests due verbal ability rather ability result employers validate entrance examination measures verbal ability giving another written test measures verbal ability end training course contention resulting correlation examination scores evidence initial test job related plainly erroneous seems however holding case read endorsing dubious proposition today result prove particularly unfortunate extended govern title vii cases accordingly accepting assertion necessary reach statutory issue hold petitioners met burden proof affirm judgment appeals although intend address constitutional questions considered part ii opinion feel constrained comment upon propriety ante one cases disapproved therein presently scheduled plenary consideration term metropolitan housing development village arlington heights cert granted regarded case months ago worthy full briefing argument effectively reversed merely inclusion laundry list lower decisions administrative authority relied support result regulation civil service commission construing civil service employment standards title code ante note however brought case csc respondents csc reason referring provision establish petitioners following standards griggs duke power past years ante provision title vii petitioners place principal reliance see griggs duke power supra see cfr et seq instructions contain regulations finds supportive district conclusion reached title vii neither instructions general regulations interpretation title vii instructions issued authority sections title code cfr fed reg pertinent regulations csc cfr et seq promulgated pursuant authorities well exec order cfr csc asserts certain guidelines bearing test job relatedness csc instructions validity see douglas hampton app established demonstrating correlation entrance examination scores criterion legitimately based needs federal government fed reg prove validity statistical studies must demonstrate test significant degree measures performance qualifications requirements relevant job jobs candidates evaluated fed reg provisions ignored opinion basis csc argues case remanded enable petitioners try make demonstration resolution seems inappropriate lower courts recognized petitioners burden proof burden yet unsatisfied respondents entitled prevail finding futransky study relies ante test effective selecting trainees learn material taught recruit school predicts averages face appear important finding fact everyone learns material included training course study noted recruits pass training examinations particular recruit difficulty given assistance passes still another factor mandates deference eeoc regulations house senate committees considering amendments title vii recognized discrimination employment including use testing devices complex pervasive phenomenon result committees noted need obtain expert assistance area supra supra indeed two justices asserted relied heavily eeoc guidelines blackmun concurring judgment burger concurring part dissenting part although validity study found test predicted job performance white officers see albemarle similar relationship existed black officers finding made relationship training examination averages job performance see appeals recognized deciding whether permitted proof simple insignificant endeavor app declined express view issue ground petitioners satisfied standard even acceptable seems proper treatment question griggs duke power jacksonville terminal cert denied hicks crown zellerbach supp ed la issuing preliminary injunction supp issuing permanent injunction see also castro beecher supp mass aff part rev part grounds western addition community org alioto supp nd cal supp issuing preliminary injunction supp issuing permanent injunction chance board examiners supp sdny aff baker columbus mun school supp nd miss aff arrington massachusetts bay transp supp mass city chicago supp nd police department officers justice csc supp nd cal police department smith city east cleveland supp nd ohio police department aff part rev part grounds harper mayor baltimore supp md fire department modified aff pennsylvania supp ed police department aff pertinent part vacated part