Chapter 6 Test

1.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 1:
- Extending suffrage was one important issue that section 1 described in the book.  The section talked about how we, as a country, took time to re-think and re-organize the way we allow people to vote.  First we took away religious tests, which is a good thing because not all people who are capable of voting believe in God.  Then we started allowing Blacks to vote, in theory.  After that, came the 19th amendment which gave the right to vote to women and from there we have changed the voting age from 21 to 18.  As you can see, steps have been taken and are still being taken to insure that all people of the appropriate age can vote in this country.

2.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 2:
- Section two hits on the topic of, "should we allow illegal aliens to vote or not?"  In it, it states that by order of the constitution, there is nothing stated that would deny those who are not American citizens the right to vote.  That being said, states are given the right to choose who can or cannot vote when it comes to being in this country a said amount of time.  Minnesota and Pennsylvania are the only states that take full advantage of that right but all states have the opportunity to make these laws.

3.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 3:
- In section three, it talks exclusively about civil rights acts that helped black people get out and vote.  Because they were being harassed by many whites, blacks didn't use there given right to vote.  This changed in the 60's when civil rights acts were passed outlining harsher laws against discrimination in the voting places or anywhere else.  Once these laws were passed, blacks could vote easier and whites were subjected to harsh punishment if caught infringing on the rights of others.

4.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 4:
- In section four, the word "idiot" is used.  Its funny to see it in a government book but what is stated is entirely true.  People who don't use their voice and vote could in fact, be called "idiots".  Especially if they then complain about things not going the way they would like to see them go.  The section talks about ways that people could then go about actually voting and they would maybe start to see improvements in what is happening in this country.


5. Explain voter apathy and what can be done to help it:
- Voter apathy is when people are given the right to vote, but for whatever reason, they just choose not to.  This is a serious problem because if no-one votes, nothing changes.  And if nothing changes, the government can seize more power and can create all the havoc it wants because citizens don't do anything to stop it.  This problem could be fixed by making voting easier, or less time consuming for people who just can't get out to vote in November.  That's why absentee ballots were introduced and also why online voting is becoming a more feasible idea.  Maybe something will change overall.


6. Explain the qualifications for registering to vote:

-Must be 18+ years of age

-Must live in the presinct you are voting in.

-In all states except ND, you must be registered to vote.

-Cannot be mentally incompetent