Question

A poll tax was a fee you had to pay before you could vote. Poll taxes were often used to prevent African Americans from voting. The 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlaws the use of poll taxes.

The approval of this amendment in 1964 continued what theme we can see over time in the U.S. Constitution?
A. The expansion of voting rights to more groups
B. The increasing limitations put on voting
C. The increasing number of elected public officials at the state and federal
D. levels of government
F. The weakening of the power of the federal government to regulate elections

Answer 1

A

Step-by-step explanation:

As time passed, laws were put into place to expand the range of individuals who could vote instead of the original population of Caucasian, rich, land-owning males.

Answer 2

The 24th Amendment's prohibition of poll taxes in 1964 followed the theme of expanding voting rights in the U.S. Constitution, removing economic barriers for voters, especially African Americans, and contributing to efforts to build a more inclusive democracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The approval of the 24th Amendment in 1964, which outlawed the use of poll taxes, continued the theme of the expansion of voting rights to more groups over time in the U.S. Constitution. This theme is evidenced by previous amendments such as the 15th Amendment, which prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, and the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. By removing the financial barrier of the poll tax, the 24th Amendment sought to ensure that poverty would not prevent individuals, particularly African Americans who were disproportionately affected, from exercising their right to vote.

Laws like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 built upon this theme by outlawing literacy tests and deploying federal examiners to ensure fair voting practices in areas with a history of discrimination. Over time, the U.S. has worked towards creating a more inclusive democracy, though challenges to voting rights have persisted, as seen in the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder and ongoing discussions about voter suppression.