Affirmative action was a new approach to dealing with discrimination in the 1960s. however, the courts have sent mixed messages on the issue. in what decision did the courts hold it illegal for federal programs to classify people by race, even when the program is meant to expand opportunities for minorities?

The correct answer is Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Peña

In this case, the supreme court decided that even in such cases it could be unconstitutional and that each individual case there should be a process of strict scrutiny of the events, which is the most strict way of observing something and the most thorough. The case was related to to both the analysis of the 14th and the 5th amendment.