Rights and Liberties (15th Amendment) Flashcards
Suffrage
The right to vote in political elections.
Poll Tax
A fee imposed on voters as a prerequisite for voting, often used as a discriminatory practice to disenfranchise certain groups.
Literacy Test
An examination testing a person’s ability to read and write, historically used as a means to disenfranchise minority voters.
Disenfranchisement
The act of depriving individuals or groups of the right to vote.
Voter Suppression
Efforts to reduce the number of people who can vote, often involving discriminatory practices or policies.
Constitution Article I, Section 4
A constitutional provision giving states the power to regulate the time, place, and manner of federal elections.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Landmark legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote, particularly in the South.
24th Amendment
Constitutional amendment that prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.
United States v. Reese (1876)
Supreme Court decision that narrowly interpreted the 15th Amendment, stating that the right to vote was not protected against the actions of individuals.
Guinn v. United States (1915)
Supreme Court decision that struck down the grandfather clause as a means of disfranchisement, declaring it unconstitutional.
Smith v. Allwright (1944)
Supreme Court decision that declared the “white primary” unconstitutional, striking down a discriminatory practice that excluded African Americans from participating in primary elections.
South Carolina v. Katzenbach (1966)
Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which required federal approval for changes to voting laws in certain jurisdictions with a history of discrimination.
Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966)
Supreme Court decision that declared the imposition of a poll tax for state elections unconstitutional, ensuring the protection of the right to vote.
Richardson v. Ramirez (1974)
Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of state laws denying the right to vote for individuals convicted of felonies.
Shelby County v. Holder (2013)
Supreme Court decision that struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which required certain states with a history of discrimination to obtain federal approval before changing their voting laws.
