the subject of the proposal has been hotly debated, with the very definition of what it encompasses at the center of the controversy. proponents argue that it bans programs in public hiring, public employment, and public education that "give preferential treatment to" or "discriminate against" individuals on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, or national origin. opponents argue that proposal 2 bans all affirmative action programs in the operation of public employment, education, or contracting.