Participation in Government

Unit II: The Electorate

Have out Your Notebook!

ELECTORATE

The TEST you just took is one part of the 1965 Alabama State Literacy test. Prior to taking the test you had to meet these other requirements.

•You had to go down to the courthouse to register. Registrars Office was only open two or three days each month for a couple of hours, usually in the morning or afternoon.

. •The Alabama Application Form and oaths you had to take were four pages long. Information you entered on the form would be passed on to the Citizens Council and KKK.

•"voucher system." This meant that you had to have someone who was already a registered voter "vouch" for you — under oath and penalty of perjury — that you met the residence qualification to vote.

•Your application was then reviewed by the three-member Board of Registrars — often in secret at a later date to see if you passed.

The Electorate

• What is an ELECTORATE?– The ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS in a country.

– Other Words for Vote- SUFFERAGE, FRANCHISE

• Who makes up the current U.S. electorate?– American citizens, – a minimum of 18-years-old, – Registered,– No convicted felonies, – Not in a Mental Institution

The Electorate

• Who originally was given the right to vote in the U.S.?

-White, male landowners.

-Later the landowning requirement was changed to taxpayer.

Our Constitution was changed four times

to create the electorate we have today.

The Electorate

Year # Description Problem

Poll Taxes

Literacy Tests

Grandfather Clause

1870 15thThe right to vote cannot be denied based upon someone’s race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Southern states instituted Jim Crow laws to segregate and take away political and civil rights of freedmen.

Amendments added to the Constitution

Year # Description Problem

1920The right to vote cannot be denied on account of gender

19th

Not many women were political; therefore, husbands received two votes.

Year # Description Problem

1961

Electoral College votes will be granted to the District of Columbia, never to exceed the number of any state [two votes]

23rd

Residents of DC never had the right to vote for President although they were US citizens.

Year # Description Problem

1971

The age minimum is lowered to 18 years old.

26th

National protests of the war in Vietnam sparked the need to lower the age; people argued, “why should I have to die for a country I have no say in?”

VOTING is the easiest way for citizens to PARTICIPATE with their gov’t; what

are some other ways to participate?• Join organization• Register others• Write letters• Call/contact reps.• Form groups• Give $• Join political party

•Hang posters•Help campaign•Protest•Lobby•Petition•Attend meetings•Work polling stations

If voting is the easiest way to participate,

WHY DON’T WE VOTE?• Too busy• Never registered• Lazy• Issue don’t concern

me• All politicians are

crooks

• My vote doesn’t count• Bad weather• Out of town• Don’t know how• Apathetic (Don’t

Care)