Chapter 6 Vocabulary

Activist An especially active, vigorous advocate of a cause, esp. a political cause.

Australian Ballot A ballot containing the names of all the candidates for public office, handed to the voter at the polling station to be marked in secret: so called because it originated in Australia.

Campaigners Someone who not only votes, but also like getting involved in campaign activities.

Communalists 1 An advocate of communal living. 2 One who is more interested in one's own minority or ethnic group than in society as a whole. 3 One who is deeply concerned about the quality of community life.

Complete Activist Individuals, usually outside of the government, who actively promote a political party, philosophy, or issue they care about.

15th Amendment The rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. i.e African Americans can vote.

Grandfather’s Clause A clause added to registration laws allowing people who did not meet registration requirements to vote if their ancestors had voted before This was to exempt poor and illiterate whites from registration requirements established to keep former slaves from voting.

Inactives People who are not involved with the voting process.

Literacy Test A requirement that citizens pass a literacy test in order to register to vote. Established to prevent former slaves from voting.

Motor-Voter Bill A bill passed by Congress in 1993 to make it easier for Americans to register to vote. The law requires states to allow voter registration by mail, when one applies for a drivers license, and at state offices that serve the disabled or poor.

19th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. i.e. women have the right to vote.

Parochial Participants People who neither vote nor engage in campaigns or community activity, but they do contact officials about specific, often personal, problems.

Poll Tax A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to vote. Once again it was adopted to prevent former slaves from voting.

Registered Voters People who are registered to vote.

26th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age. i.e. anyone 18 years old can vote.

23rd Amendment Permits the District of Columbia to choose electors for President and Vice President.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 Outlawed the requirement that would-be voters in the United States take literacy tests to qualify to register to vote, and it provided for federal registration of voters in areas that had less than 50% of eligible minority voters registered.

Voting Age Population Number of citizens eligible to vote after reaching a minimum age requirement.

Voting Specialist People who vote but do little else.

White Primary The practice of keeping African Americans from voting in primary elections through arbitrary implementation of registration requirements and intimidations.