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Kids Voting: I have a right and responsibility to vote
A six-week series for students and parents based on the Kids Voting curriculum
 Activity: "1965 Alabama Literacy Test"
Objective: Understand that the freedom to vote is something we should not take for granted.
The reason for this test: After the Civil War, the 15th and 19th amendments to the U.S. Constitution gave African-Americans the right to vote. However, many whites in Southern and some Western states didn't want that to happen. To keep blacks from voting, politicians and voting officials came up with a complicated system of voter registration. The system was different from state to state and county to county, but in many areas, people who wanted to vote had to pay a "poll tax," or take a "literacy test" like the one below.
What test-takers faced: In most counties, the voter registration office was only open for a few hours two or three days a week, making it difficult for working people to get there – especially since white employers were known to fire black employees for going to register. At the office, blacks were often harassed, humiliated or threatened. In Alabama, the application form and test was four pages long and designed to be intimidating. Whether the person registering to vote got every question right didn't matter, because a three-member Board of Registrars would decide who was and who was not "qualified." That meant that black people could get 100 percent right and still not be allowed to vote.
The test process: First, the applicant was given a selection of the Constitution to read out loud, with the voting official marking each mispronounced word. Next, the applicant had to either copy out by hand a section of the Constitution or write it down as the voting official read it out loud, often mumbling. Then there were two different sets of four written questions, one on the section of Constitution just copied and another set of "general knowledge" questions about state and national citizenship.
The Civil Rights Movement: When civil rights workers began helping blacks study for the test, the state of Alabama responded by changing the test around. Between August 1964 and July 1965 the state had 100 different tests and the applicant had to choose one at random from a binder. Thankfully, in August 1965, the U.S. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act and President Lyndon Johnson signed it into law. The Act banned the tests and gave the federal government the power to oversee voter registration and elections.
Things to think about while you take the test: Are the questions difficult? Do you think that people who have not had much schooling could answer them? If passing the test meant getting a perfect score, would you have been able to vote in Alabama in 1965? Would your mom or dad? Who do you think should have the right to vote?
Why learn this now: Today, all American citizens 18 and older have the right to vote. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2, and registered voters who want to vote early may do so through "one-stop voting" at four special sites (see box).
Kids Voting: If your parents or guardians decide to vote at a "one-stop" site, you can cast your Kids Voting ballot, too, because kids' ballots will be there starting Monday, Oct. 25. Kids Voting tables will also be set up at all of Jackson County's 18 precincts on Election Day. Adults that would like to volunteer to staff a table should call executive director Dave Baker at 586-1598.
1965 Alabama Literacy Test
1. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
___ Public education
___ Employment
___ Voting
___Trial by jury
2. The federal census of population is taken each five years.
___ True ___ False
3. If a person is indicted for a crime, name two rights which he has.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
4. A U.S. senator elected at the general election in November takes office the following year on what date?
__________
5. A president elected at the general election in November takes office the following year on what date?
__________
6. Which definition applies to the word "amendment?"
___ Proposed change, as in a Constitution
___ Making of peace between nations at war
___ A part of the government
7. A person appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed for a term of __________________________.
8. When the Constitution was approved by the original colonies, how many states had to ratify it in order for it to be in effect? __________
9. Does enumeration affect the income tax levied on citizens in various states?
___ Yes ___ No
10. Persons opposed to swearing in an oath may say, instead: "I solemnly __________."
11. To serve as president of the United States, a person must have attained:
___ 25 years
___ 35 years
___ 40 years
___ 45 years
12. What words are required by law to be on all coins and paper currency of the United States?
____________________________________________
13. The Supreme Court is the chief lawmaking body of the state.
___ True ___ False
14. If a law passed by a state is contrary to provisions of the U.S. Constitution, which law prevails? ____________
15. If a vacancy occurs in the U.S. Senate, the state must hold an election, but meanwhile the place may be filled by a temporary appointment made by __________.
16. A U.S. senator is elected for a term of ___ years.
17. Appropriation of money for the armed services can be only for a period limited to ___ years.
18. The chief executive and the administrative offices make up the __________ branch of the government.
19. Who passes laws dealing with piracy? ____________
20. The number of representatives which a state is entitled to have in the House of Representatives is based on __________________________________________.
21. The Constitution protects an individual against punishments which are ___________ and _____________.
22. When a jury has heard and rendered a verdict in a case, and the judgment on the verdict has become final, the defendant cannot again be brought to trial for the same cause.
___ True ___ False
23. Name two levels of government which can levy taxes:
____________________ and ____________________
24. Communism was a type of government in:
___ the United States
___ Russia
___ England
25. Cases tried before a court of law are two types, civil and ________________.
26. By a majority vote of the members of Congress, the Congress can change provisions of the Constitution of the U.S.
___ True ___ False
27. For security, each state has a right to form a _________.
28. The electoral vote for president is counted in the presence of two bodies. Name them: ____________________ and _____________________.
29. If no candidate for president receives a majority of the electoral vote, who decides who will become president?
_____________________________________________
30. Of the original 13 states, the one with the largest representation in the first Congress was _______________.
31. Of which branch of government is the Speaker of the House a part?
___ Executive
___ Legislative
___ Judicial
32. Capital punishment is the giving of a death sentence.
___ True ___ False
33. In case the president is unable to perform the duties of his office, who assumes them? _____________________
34. "Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the U.S. upon conviction of a crime.
___ True ___ False
35. If a state is a party to a case, the Constitution provides that original jurisdiction shall be in _________________.
36. Congress passes laws regulating cases which are included in those over which the U.S. Supreme Court has _____________ jurisdiction.
37. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution?
___ Public housing
___ Education
___ Voting
___ Trial by jury
38. The legislatures of the states decide how presidential electors may be chosen.
___ True ___ False
39. If it were proposed to join Alabama and Mississippi to form one state, what groups would have to vote approval in order for this to be done?
_____________________________________________
40. The vice president presides over _______________.
41. The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to __________________________________.
42. The only laws which can be passed to apply to an area in a federal arsenal are those passed by _________________ provided consent for the purchase of the land is given by the __________________.
43. In which document or writing is the "Bill of Rights" found? ______________________________________
44. Of which branch of government is a Supreme Court justice a part?
___ Executive
___ Legislative
___ Judicial
45. If no person receives a majority of the electoral votes, the vice president is chosen by the Senate.
___ True ___ False
46. Name two things which the states are forbidden to do by the U.S. Constitution.
_____________________ and ____________________
47. If election of the president becomes the duty of the U.S. House of Representatives and it fails to act, who becomes president and when?
____________________________________________
48. How many votes must a person receive in order to become president if the election is decided by the U.S. House of Representatives? _______________________
49. How many states were required to approve the original Constitution in order for it to be in effect? _________
50. Check the offenses which, if you are convicted of them, disqualify you for voting:
___ Murder
___ Issuing worthless checks
___ Petty larceny
___ Manufacturing whiskey
51. The Congress decides in what manner states elect presidential electors.
___ True ___ False
52. Name two of the purposes of the U.S. Constitution.
____________________ and ____________________
53. Congress is composed of:
__________________________________________
54. All legislative powers granted in the U.S. Constitution may legally be used only by __________________.
55. The population census is required to be made every ___ years.
56. Impeachments of U.S. officials are tried by __________________.
57. If an effort to impeach the president of the U.S. is made, who presides at the trial? __________________
58. On the impeachment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S., who tries the case?
_____________________________________________
59. Money is coined by order of:
___ U.S. Congress
___ The president's cabinet
___ State legislatures
60. Persons elected to cast a state's vote for U.S. president and vice president are called presidential ________________.
61. Name one power which is exclusively legislative and mentioned in one of the parts of the U.S. Constitution. ________________________________________
62. If a person flees from justice into another state, who has authority to ask for his return? _________________
63. Whose duty is it to keep Congress informed of the state of the union? ____________________________
64. If the two houses of Congress cannot agree on adjournment, who sets the time? ____________________
65. When presidential electors meet to cast ballots for president, must all electors in a state vote for the same person for president or can they vote for different persons if they so choose? _________________________
66. After presidential electors have voted, to whom do they send the count of their votes? _________________
67. The power to declare war is vested in __________.
68. Any power and rights not given to the U.S. or prohibited to the states by the U.S. Constitution are specified as belonging to whom? _____________________
African-Americans, women and the poor in this country have had to fight for the right to vote.
Don't forget that struggle – vote this year!
Answers:
1. Trial by jury only
2. False (every 10 years)
3. Habeas corpus (immediate presentation of charges); lawyer; speedy trial
4. Jan. 3
5. Jan. 20
6. Proposed change, as in a constitution
7. Life (with good behavior)
8. Nine
9. Yes
10. "Affirm"
11. 35
12. "In God We Trust"
13. False
14. U.S. Constitution
15. The governor
16. Six
17. Two
18. Executive
19. Congress
20. Population (as determined by census), less untaxed Indians
21. Cruel and unusual
22. True
23. State and local
24. Russia
25. Criminal
26. False
27. Militia
28. House of Representatives, Senate
29. House of Representatives
30. Virginia
31. Legislative
32. True
33. The vice president
34. True
35. The Supreme Court
36. Co-appellate
37. Trial by jury
38. True
39. Congress and the legislatures of both states
40. The Senate
41. 10 miles square
42. Congress; state legislatures
43. Constitution
44. Judicial
45. True
46. Coin money; make treaties
47. The vice president, until the House acts
48. 26
49. Nine
50. Murder
51. False
52. (Preamble statements) "to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity"
53. House of Representatives and Senate
54. Congress
55. 10
56. The Senate
57. The chief justice of the Supreme Court
58. The Senate
59. The U.S. Congress
60. Electors
61. Pass laws, coin money, declare war
62. The governor
63. The president
64. The president
65. They can vote for different people.
66. Vice president (the president of the Senate)
67. Congress
68. The states; the people
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