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Federal elections and voting rights have changed since the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Below are a timeline of select historic documents to show these changes, and a section on U.S. Government information about former congressional members, past presidents, and analyses of the Constitution.
Photograph of President Lyndon B. Johnson Signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Source: NAID: 2803443)
When the Constitution was adopted, voting rights were decided by the states, which routinely permitted only white men who owned property to vote.^ This gallery highlights some historic documents since 1787 that have expanded voting rights. Below is the timeline of featured documents. Click on the side arrows in this box to read more about them.
"The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing [sic] Senators."
This clause of the Constitution gives state legislatures the authority to oversee congressional elections; however, the U.S. Congress regulates the election process and can override state election laws.^
"An Act for the apportionment of Representatives among the several States according to the sixth census."
This is the first time that the U.S. Congress starts standardizing congressional districts and reapportioning the House membership based on the decennial census rather than continually increasing the number of seats. The immediate result decreases the number of seats from 242 to 223 seats.^
"An Act to enforce the Right of Citizens of the United States to vote in the several States of this Union, and for other Purposes."
The purpose of this law is to authorize the President to "counteract such use of violence and intimidation" against former slaves after the passage of the 15th Amendment.^ It is also known as the Enforcement Act of 1870 or the First Ku Klux Klan Act.
"To provide for the fifteenth and subsequent decennial censuses and to provide for apportionment of Representatives in Congress."
This act, signed by President Herbert Hoover, places a permanent cap of 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and there is a reapportionment of the seats after every decennial census.^
"To provide means of further securing and protecting the civil rights of persons within the jurisdiction of the United States."
Signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower, this act is the "first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction."^ The legislation, however, is a compromised, "watered-down" measure passed by the U.S. Congress.*
"To enforce constitutional rights... Whoever, by threats or force, willfully prevents, obstructs, impedes, or interferes with, or willfully attempts to prevent, obstruct, impede, or interfere with, the due exercise of rights or the performance of duties under any order, judgment, or decree of a court of the United States, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both."
This act amends the Civil Rights Act of 1957, including making it a crime "to obstruct rights or duties under Federal court orders" to enforce voting rights of citizens.
"To enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suites to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes."
President Lyndon Johnson signs this act into law, which includes outlawing discrimination to public accommodations, public facilities, public education, and federally assisted programs.
"To enforce the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes... No voting qualifications or prerequisite to voting, or standing, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color."
This act, signed by President Lyndon Johnson, outlaws discriminatory voting practices by expanding the 15th Amendment.
"To consolidate and improve provisions of law relating to absentee registration and voting in elections for Federal office by members of uniformed services and persons who reside overseas."
President Ronald Reagan signs UOCAVA into law, which requires states to permit and process the absentee voting of members of uniformed services and overseas U.S. citizens residents in special, general, primary, and runoff elections for Federal offices.
"To establish national voter registration procedures for Federal elections, and for other purposes."
Signed by President Bill Clinton, this act requires states to permit voter registration at state motor vehicle agencies, offer mail-in opportunities, and maintain current and accurate voter registration lists. The District of Columbia and six states (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming); however, are exempt because they either have "no voter-registration requirements or have election-day voter registration at the polling places."^
"To establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission to assist in the administration of Federal elections and to otherwise provide assistance with the administration of certain Federal election laws and programs, to establish minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections, and for other purposes."
Signed by President George W. Bush, this act codifies Chapter 209 of Title 52 of the U.S. Code, which concerns improving election administration.
"Each State shall include a means of electronic communication so designated with all informational and instructional materials that accompany balloting materials sent by the State to absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters."
President Barack Obama signs this act in law, which expands UOCAVA by providing "greater protections for service members, their families, and other overseas citizens."^ Under Subtitle H—Military Voting of Public Law No. 111–84, this expansion includes electronic communication about absentee voting and a required minimum of 45 days to transmit absentee ballots to applicable voters.
"It is only because the majority rejects Citizens United’s statutory claim that it proceeds to consider the group’s various constitutional arguments, beginning with its narrowest claim (that Hillary is not the functional equivalent of express advocacy) and proceeding to its broadest claim (that Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 494 U. S. 652 (1990) should be overruled)... Congress may not prohibit political speech, even if the speaker is a corporation or union. What makes this case difficult is the need to confront our prior decision in Austin."
The Supreme Court rules 5-to-4 that Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission violates the right of free speech under the First Amendment.
Many resources exist when conducting research on former congressional members, past presidents, and analyses of the Constitution. Click on the tabs of this box to learn more about each of these topics. The featured U.S. Government resources come from the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, Library of Congress, National Archives & Records Administration, National Park Service, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and the White House.
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| Former Congressional Members |
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Congress.gov Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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National Park Service The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
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U.S. House of Representatives Researching Former Members of Congress
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U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
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U.S. Senate Living Former Senators (Alphabetical)
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| Past Presidents |
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Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC)
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Library of Congress Chronological List of Presidents, First Ladies, and Vice Presidents of the United States
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National Park Service American Presidents: List of Sites
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U.S. House of Representatives Presidents, Vice Presidents, & Coinciding Sessions of Congress
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U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
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The White House
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| Analyses of the Constitution |
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Congress.gov
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Library of Congress Classroom Materials: The Constitution
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U.S. National Archives and Records Administration The Constitution of the United States
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