Glossary
Fifteenth Amendment
Ratified in 1870, this amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude.'
Example:
Despite the Fifteenth Amendment, Southern states found ways around it with poll taxes and literacy tests to prevent Black men from voting.
Grandfather clauses
Provisions enacted in some Southern states that exempted individuals from literacy tests or poll taxes if their ancestors had voted before 1866 or 1867, effectively disenfranchising Black Americans.
Example:
A white voter whose grandfather had voted in 1860 would be exempt from a grandfather clause, while a Black voter whose ancestors were enslaved would not.
Literacy tests
Discriminatory tests formerly used in some Southern states to prevent Black Americans from voting by requiring them to demonstrate reading and writing skills.
Example:
Before the Voting Rights Act, a Black citizen might be asked to interpret a complex legal document to pass a literacy test before being allowed to register to vote.
Nineteenth Amendment
Ratified in 1920, this amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on sex.
Example:
The passage of the Nineteenth Amendment was a monumental victory for the women's suffrage movement, finally granting women nationwide the right to vote.
Party-Line Voting
A model of voting behavior where voters consistently support candidates from their preferred political party, often regardless of individual candidate qualities or specific policy stances.
Example:
Even if they don't know much about a local candidate, a voter might engage in party-line voting and simply choose the candidate affiliated with their registered party.
Poll taxes
A fee required to vote, historically used in Southern states to disenfranchise poor citizens, particularly Black Americans.
Example:
Even if a person could read, they might be unable to afford the poll tax, effectively barring them from casting a ballot.
Prospective Voting
A model of voting behavior where voters cast their ballots based on what they believe a candidate will do in the future, focusing on their promises and proposed policies.
Example:
A voter concerned about climate change might engage in prospective voting by supporting a candidate who has outlined a detailed plan for renewable energy and environmental protection.
Rational-Choice Voting
A model of voting behavior where voters cast their ballots based on what they perceive to be in their own best interest, weighing the costs and benefits of different candidates or policies.
Example:
A student might engage in rational-choice voting by supporting a candidate who promises to forgive student loan debt, as that policy directly benefits them.
Retrospective Voting
A model of voting behavior where voters make decisions based on a candidate's or party's past performance, often looking at the economy or social issues.
Example:
During an election, a voter might engage in retrospective voting by deciding not to re-elect an incumbent president because the economy has been struggling during their term.
Seventeenth Amendment
Ratified in 1913, this amendment established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote, rather than by state legislatures.
Example:
Before the Seventeenth Amendment, state political machines often controlled who became a senator, leading to accusations of corruption and lack of public accountability.
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
Ratified in 1964, this amendment prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.
Example:
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment was a crucial step in dismantling discriminatory voting practices, making it easier for low-income citizens to participate in federal elections.
Twenty-Sixth Amendment
Ratified in 1971, this amendment lowered the national voting age to 18.
Example:
The Vietnam War era saw widespread calls for the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, as many argued that if 18-year-olds could be drafted to fight, they should also be able to vote.
Twenty-Third Amendment
Ratified in 1961, this amendment grants citizens residing in the District of Columbia the right to vote in presidential elections and assigns them electoral votes.
Example:
Thanks to the Twenty-Third Amendment, residents of Washington, D.C., can now cast ballots for president, even though D.C. is not a state.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Landmark federal legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices, such as literacy tests, and authorized federal oversight of elections in areas with a history of discrimination.
Example:
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 significantly increased voter registration and turnout among Black Americans in the South by removing systemic barriers.
White primaries
Primary elections in the Southern United States in which only white voters were permitted to participate, effectively excluding Black Americans from the political process.
Example:
In states with white primaries, Black citizens could not vote in the crucial primary elections, meaning they had no say in who would run for office in the general election.