The Voting Rights Act contains different provisions, some of which apply throughout the country and some of which apply only in those states and local jurisdictions that meet the conditions and tests spelled out in the act. This booklet explains the general provisions of the act, including the following: voter qualifications, civil suits and…

Provides support for the generalization that media use indirectly affects voting confidence. Also indicates that newspaper reading increases the probability of viewing television news, but that TV news viewing has little or no effect on probability of reading newspapers. (NKA)

The year 2005 marks 40 years since Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was signed into effect by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. But impediments to voting rights still exist, along with other civil rights problems. It is thus imperative that agencies be given the authority and adequate…

This Working Paper presents an overview of findings from research that addresses whether, and to what extent, gender is salient in the development of norms of citizen behavior and key precursors to citizen engagement. A variety of data is used to illuminate the complexity of gender's relationship to citizen engagement among today's youth. The bulk…

This volume provides documentation on the origin of the women's rights movement placing the documents in a context that aims to show the rationale that blocked women from achieving full equality. The volume contains 127 fully annotated documents presented in chronological order (with a few exceptions) beginning in 1632 with colonial laws regarding…

Although American youth seem to be knowledgeable about civic matters and say they wish to participate in civic activities, a relatively low percentage of youth are engaged in their communities. This review examines various antecedents of positive citizenship among 12- to 18-year-olds, focusing on proximal and distal influences on organized forms…

This publication examines ways to teach about law in the liberal arts. This issue focuses on future voting rights issues by exploring the 2000 presidential election. Articles included are: "Voting Rights in the New Millennium" (Jason F. Kirksey); "Legal and Political Lessons from 'Bush v. Gore'" (David Schultz); "The…

In this lesson plan, each student must decide which political party he/she will join or whether to register as an independent. Each student will be part of a group analyzing one current political party and presenting to the class this party's solutions for the problems confronting the United States today. The political parties for analysis are:…

Analyzes media content and opinion poll data to show that President Bush's job approval ratings were closely tied between August 1990 and November 1992 to changes in issue salience of the Gulf War and economic recession. Formulates and tests hypotheses concerning media effects on voters' evaluations of Bush. Shows that his ratings were related to…

Describes Native American voting campaigns in Montana and efforts by Native Action, a non-profit advocacy group, to increase voter registration, voter turnout, and voter education among Indians. Argues that the numbers of Indian voters are increasing, but that there is still a need for more Indian candidates. Highlights the need for voter…

Builds on multidisciplinary research on framing, motivation, and decision making to examine the relationships among media frames, individual interpretations of issues, and voter decision making. Shows how two groups, evangelical Christians and undergraduates, responded to simulated newspaper articles on election candidates. Finds that media frames…

Describes the construction and results of a predictive model that could help identify what factors seemed to influence voter choices on a school voucher constitutional amendment in California. Precinct voting outcome data from the County of Los Angeles were linked to voter demographics along with measures of local school quality and existing…

Many school buildings are in dire need of renovation, expansion, or replacement. Brief case studies from around the country illustrate the importance of finding out why people vote for or against a construction referendum. Lists recommendations for a strategic campaign. (MLF)

In the 1988 KDES Presidential Election Project, deaf students (ages 6-15) at the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School conducted a voter registration. Students used computers to assemble lists of potential voters, analyze the lists, generate forms and banners, and trace election results. They set up polling places, generated campaign publicity,…

The ideology of higher education for women at Wellesley College in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is discussed in the context of feminism and the women's suffrage movement. "Symmetrical womanhood," a concept emphasizing balance of traditional roles and intellectual and community involvement, was a goal of Wellesley faculty of…