Twenty-Fourth Amendment
Definition
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment, ratified in 1964, prohibits both Congress and states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other types of tax.
Analogy
Think about going to an amusement park where some rides require an extra fee that not everyone can afford. Those without extra money miss out on those rides. Before this amendment, voting was like those exclusive rides - only accessible if you could pay additional fees (poll taxes).
Related terms
Poll Tax: A tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual without reference to income or resources.
Disenfranchisement: The state of being deprived of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote.
Civil Rights Act (1964): Landmark legislation outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
"Twenty-Fourth Amendment" appears in:
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.