What is the difference between de jure and de facto segregation?

• A. De jure by practice; de facto by law.
• B. De jure by law; de facto by practice or effect.
• C. They are the same.
• D. De jure relates to economics; de facto to geography.

Answer: (B)

De jure segregation exists because laws or official policies require or authorize it, while de facto segregation arises from how people live and interact—patterns, practices, and outcomes that lead to separation even without any legal mandate. In history, laws explicitly enforcing segregation (like state or local statutes) created de jure separation, whereas de facto separation came from factors such as housing patterns, economic disparities, and school zoning that produce segregated living and schooling without explicit laws. So the correct distinction is de jure by law and de facto by practice or effect. The other options mix up what is mandated by law vs what results from social patterns, and they’re not accurate descriptions.