The Right To Vote

Both Women and Men Should Vote Wisely

of its citizens may vote, and they generally provide that, before qualifying to vote, a citizen must have lived in the State long enough to settle down and begin making himself a home. Some States will not let citizens vote unless they can read and write. Most of the States refuse voting rights to idiots, insane persons, and those who have been convicted of serious crimes. The Constitution of the United States guarantees that no citizen shall be refused the right to vote because of race, color, or sex.

Each citizen should do his very best to vote wisely. He should try to think for himself after hearing and reading as much as he can on a given question or set of candidates. Women should use their right to vote and should help to choose good officials. Today our different governments are making thousands of laws and rules. Many of these are about our homes, schools, children, and neighborhood living. In towns and cities, as well as in the State and National Governments, laws and rules are constantly being made about such things as our work and business, and the safety of our homes, our health, and our money. Study Figure 25 and see how many of the subjects of laws or rules listed there are to be found in your own neighborhood or community.

It is only through wise voting that we can elect better officials who will give us a modern, up-to-date government. It is only through frequent elections that we can learn what the people want, whom they wish to choose to manage their government, and how they believe the government should be run. In our country we believe in "the rule of the majority." This means that decisions must be made according to the votes of more than half of those voting. If many of our citizens get careless and forget to vote, the "rule of the majority" may become the rule of just a few.

THINGS TO DO

Questions to discuss in your study group:

1. How many reasons can you think of, which are likely

to make aliens living in our country want to become naturalized citizens?

2. Make a list of the valuable rights which members of your group have shared, even as noncitizens living in your community.

3. Would you answer "yes" or "no" to each of the following statements?

Yes No

□ ᄆ 1. Is an alien free to share in all the rights and opportunities of government in the United States?

ᄆ

2. Does an alien share in the personal rights which are guaranteed to us in the Bill of Rights?

3. Under the Constitution, may people in the United States be required to attend church? 4. May you say anything you please so long as it is true?

5. May newspapers print opinions which are not the same as those of the political party in power?

☐ 6. Do citizens of the United States have a right to assemble (meet together) peaceably?

7. If a street in your community is dark and badly lighted, may you petition the public officials for better lighting?

☐☐ 8. In time of peace, could the Government force you to let soldiers live in your home if you did not wish to have them?

9. Can an accused person be held for many years before being granted a trial in this country? 10. Could a judge sentence an accused person to be tortured to death?

11. Can the National Government claim powers

which have not been given to it by the Constitution?

12. Can an alien serve as a representative of his community in a government position?

13. Is it necessary for every qualified citizen to vote in order to keep this a true republican form of government?

Some more words which the student should understand:

abridging-making smaller, decreasing.
attachment-devotion, loyalty.

autocracies-governments in which one person has all the final
authority.

criticize-find fault with a person or thing.

deprive forced to give up something.

descendants-all the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., of the same parents.

dictators-leaders who have autocratic authority for a short time.

exchange-trade, barter.

exercise-use or practice.

generous-free about giving things away.

idiots-persons without sound minds from birth.

impose-lay a burden or weight on.

imprisonment-condition of being locked up in prison.

innocence-being not guilty.

insane-mentally unbalanced; mad; crazy.

law-abiding-obeying the law.

licenses-authority to do certain acts or carry on certain businesses.

noncitizens-persons who are not citizens of the country in which they live.

ownership-authority over things which belong to one.

patriots-persons who love their country and try to improve it. peaceably-in a peaceful way.

permit a written or printed card authorizing a person to do something.

policies-plans for present or future official action.

practice-do a thing many times.

project-plan for work to be done.

quartered-given a place to live (usually said of soldiers).
"railroaded"—an American expression meaning that the accused
has been sent to jail without a fair chance of telling his side.
redress of grievances-changes to correct conditions which put
persons in danger or make them unhappy or uncomfortable.

reputation-what other people think and say about a person. respecting-about, with relation to.

rule of the majority-the vote of more than half of those voting. sentence-order by a judge for punishment.

sewage-waste and undesirable liquids or other matters carried off by sewers.

Social Security-arrangement made by the Government to protect people against the hardships of unemployment, illness, blindness, old age, etc.

sued-forced to appear in a law court to answer someone's claim of wrong or damage.

suspected-believed to be guilty.

tortured-put under extreme pain.

tyrants-heads of countries who rule by force and cruelty. violence-rought treatment, force.