Which term refers to discrimination that occurs in practice rather than through formal laws or written policies?

• A. A federal law prohibiting discrimination in employment and other areas based on race, sex, religion, color, or national origin.
• B. De facto discrimination
• C. Consent decree
• D. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Answer: (B)

Discrimination that shows up in actual practice rather than in written rules is de facto discrimination. It happens in day-to-day operations, outcomes, or organizational culture, even when there isn’t a formal policy or law stating that discrimination is happening. It can arise from implicit biases, uneven access, or procedural gaps that produce biased results, despite neutral-sounding policies.

A federal law prohibiting discrimination describes de jure discrimination—discrimination that is codified in law or formal policy—so it’s not the same as the discriminating practices that occur in reality. A consent decree is a court order to remedy violations, not the description of how discrimination manifests day-to-day. The national law enforcement officers memorial is unrelated to discrimination concepts altogether.

So, the term that fits best is de facto discrimination, because it captures what happens in practice without explicit written policies.