Adult Franchise
Right to express one’s choice by vote is called Franchise. When the right to vote or franchise is given to every adult in a state, it is known as the Universal Adult Franchise.
In its original 19th-century usage by reformers in Britain, universal suffrage was understood to mean only universal manhood suffrage; the vote was extended to Women later, during the women’s suffrage movement.
There are variations among countries in terms of specifics of the right to vote; the minimum age is usually between 18 and 25 years (see age of majority) and “the insane, certain classes of convicted criminals, and those punished for certain electoral offenses” sometimes lack the right to vote.
Evolution of universal adult suffrage around the globe
France, under the 1793 Jacobin constitution, was the first major country to enact suffrage for all adult males, though it was never formally used in practice (the subsequent election occurring in 1795 after the fall of the Jacobin government in 1794). Elsewhere in the Francophone world, the Republic of Haiti legislated for universal male suffrage in 1816. The Second French Republic instituted adult male suffrage after the revolution of 1848.
Following the French revolutions, movements in the Western world toward universal suffrage occurred in the early 19th century, and focused on removing property requirements for voting. In 1867 Germany (the North German Confederation) enacted suffrage for all adult males.
On 19 September 1893 the British Governor of New Zealand, Lord Glasgow, gave assent to a new electoral act, which meant that New Zealand became the first British-controlled colony in which women had the right to vote in parliamentary Elections.This was followed shortly after by the colony of South Australia in 1894, which was the second to allow women to vote, but the first colony to permit women to stand for election as well. Twelve years later, the autonomous Russian territory known as Grand Duchy of Finland (which became the Republic of Finland in 1917) became the first territory in the world to implement unrestricted universal suffrage, as women could stand as candidates, unlike in New Zealand, and without indigenous ethnic exclusion, like in Australia. It also lead to the election of the world’s first female members of parliament the following year. Federal states and colonial or autonomous territories prior to World War I have multiple examples of early introduction of universal suffrage. However, these legal changes were effected with the permission of the British, Russian or other government bodies, which were considered the sovereign nation at the time. For this reason, Australia (1901), New Zealand (1908) and Finland (1917) all have different dates of achieving independent nationhood.
In the United States, the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1870 during the Reconstruction era, provided that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Despite the amendment, however, blacks were disfranchised in the former Confederate states after 1877; Southern officials ignored the amendment and blocked black citizens from voting through a variety of devices, including poll taxes, Literacy tests, and grandfather clauses. Southern blacks did not effectively receive the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In 1893 the self-governing colony New Zealand became the first country in the world (except for the short-lived 18th-century Corsican Republic) to grant active universal suffrage by giving women the right to vote. It did not grant universal full suffrage (the right to both vote and be a candidate, or both active and passive suffrage) until 1919.
Evolution of adult suffrage in India
In less than a week’s time, the people of India, irrespective of their caste, creed, Education or income, like they have done 16 times before, will elect members to the Lok Sabha. This is made possible by the Constitution of India, 1950 that encodes the principle of universal adult franchise.
This principle was denied to Indians during British rule, chiefly by the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, two critical pieces of British legislation that governed colonial India. Under these Acts, only those who satisfied certain criteria that included income, property and education could vote for members of the provincial and central legislatures. On Average, only 3-10% of the Indian Population were allowed to exercise their franchise. For decades, most Indians had no voice in elections.
A significant strand of the Indian freedom movement was centred around demands for universal adult franchise. We find this articulated in most Indian historical constitutions, the earliest of which was the Constitution of India Bill 1895 that gave every citizen ‘a right to give one vote for electing a member to the Parliament of India and one local Legislative Council’.
Moving into the early 20th century, two significant historical constitutions did not fully echo the 1895 Bill. The first, Lucknow Pact 1916, authored jointly by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, called for ‘as broad a franchise as possible’. The second, Commonwealth Bill 1925, drafted by a consortium of Indian political groups, provided for a limited franchise: voting rights were subject to criteria that resembled British legalisation – education, land and income. It is plausible that these historical constitutions were informed by political pragmatism: they were aimed to, among other things, persuade the British to provide for greater involvement of Indians in government. An aggressive demand for full adult franchise would have led the British to not show up at the negotiating table altogether.
Towards the end of the 1920s however, things changed radically. Calls for greater levels of self-government within the British Empire – dominion status, transformed into calls for ‘Purna Swaraj’ or ‘complete freedom’. Indian leaders now declared that India should be governed by a Constitution written by Indians, and this Constitution would unequivocally provide universal adult franchise. The Nehru Report 1928 stated that ‘Every person of either sex who has attained the age of 21, and is not disqualified by law, shall be entitled to vote’. The Karachi Resolution 1931 argued that any Constitution of India must contain ‘adult suffrage’.
In the years leading up to the setting up of the Constituent Assembly, more Indian historical constitutions like the Gandhian Constitution of Free India 1946, Ambedkar’s States and Minorities 1945, and the Sapru Report 1945, provided for universal adult franchise. In 1946, the Cabinet Mission Plan recognised the principle as the ideal mode of electing members to the Constituent Assembly. But it felt that implementing universal adult franchise would ‘unacceptably delay’ the setting up of the Assembly. And so, Assembly members ended up being elected indirectly – by members of the recently elected provincial legislatures.
These indirectly elected Assembly members did not lose sight of universal adult suffrage. When it came to the topic of elections, the Assembly’s Sub-committee on Fundamental Rights was firm that universal adult suffrage must be guaranteed by the Constitution and proceeded to draft provisions to this effect. In about 2 years, the final constitution of India 1950, in Part 15, through ARTICLE 326 stated explicitly stated – Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to be on the basis of adult suffrage. A year later, between October 1951 and March 1952, 17 crore Indians, for the first time in Indian political and constitutional history, came out and voted for independent India’s first Lok Sabha based on universal adult franchise.
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Adult franchise is the right of all adults to vote in elections. It is a fundamental right in many countries, and it is based on the principle of universal suffrage. Adult franchise is important for Democracy because it helps to ensure that all people have a voice in government. It can also help to promote social Justice and Equality, and it can help to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Adult franchise is a right that should be cherished and protected.
Adult franchise is the right of all adults to vote in elections. This means that all people who are 18 years old or older have the right to cast a ballot in elections. Adult franchise is a fundamental right in many countries, and it is based on the principle of universal suffrage. Universal suffrage is the principle that all people have the right to vote, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or social status.
Adult franchise is important for democracy because it helps to ensure that all people have a voice in government. In a democracy, the government is supposed to be accountable to the people. This means that the government should be responsive to the needs and interests of the people. Adult franchise helps to ensure that this happens by giving all people a say in who is elected to government.
Adult franchise can also help to promote social justice and equality. When all people have the right to vote, it helps to ensure that all people have a voice in government. This can help to promote policies that benefit all people, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or social status.
Adult franchise can also help to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. When all people have the right to vote, it helps to ensure that the government is more representative of the people. This can help to build a more just and equitable Society.
Adult franchise is a right that should be cherished and protected. It is a fundamental right that helps to ensure that all people have a voice in government. It can also help to promote social justice and equality, and it can help to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. We should all work to protect this right and to ensure that all people have the opportunity to exercise it.
There are many arguments in favor of adult franchise. One argument is that it is a fundamental right that all people should have. Another argument is that it helps to ensure that the government is more representative of the people. Adult franchise can also help to promote social justice and equality.
There are some arguments against adult franchise. One argument is that it can lead to the election of unqualified or incompetent leaders. Another argument is that it can lead to the tyranny of the majority. However, these arguments are not convincing. Adult franchise is a right that should be cherished and protected.
What is the difference between a democracy and a republic?
A democracy is a form of government in which the people hold power. This can be done directly, through voting on laws and policies, or indirectly, through elected representatives. A republic is a form of government in which the people hold power, but the power is exercised by elected representatives.
What are the different types of democracies?
There are many different types of democracies, but the most common are Direct Democracy, representative democracy, and participatory democracy. Direct democracy is a form of government in which the people vote on laws and policies directly. Representative democracy is a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Participatory democracy is a form of government in which the people are actively involved in making decisions.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of democracy?
Democracy has many advantages, including:
- It gives the people a say in how they are governed.
- It promotes equality and justice.
- It can lead to more effective government.
However, democracy also has some disadvantages, including:
- It can be slow and inefficient.
- It can be difficult to reach consensus.
- It can be vulnerable to Corruption.
What are the different types of republics?
There are many different types of republics, but the most common are presidential republics, parliamentary republics, and semi-presidential republics. Presidential republics are a form of government in which the president is both the head of state and the head of government. Parliamentary republics are a form of government in which the president is the head of state, but the prime minister is the head of government. Semi-presidential republics are a form of government that combines Elements of presidential and parliamentary republics.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of republics?
Republics have many advantages, including:
- They are more stable than democracies.
- They are less likely to be overthrown.
- They are more efficient than democracies.
However, republics also have some disadvantages, including:
- They can be less responsive to the needs of the people.
- They can be more easily corrupted.
- They can be less democratic than democracies.
What is the role of the government in a democracy?
The role of the government in a democracy is to protect the rights of the people, provide for the common good, and promote the general welfare. The government does this by providing Services such as education, healthcare, and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE. It also enforces laws and regulations, and protects the country from foreign threats.
What is the role of the people in a democracy?
The role of the people in a democracy is to participate in the political process, vote for their leaders, and hold their leaders accountable. The people also have the right to free speech, Freedom of Assembly, and freedom of religion.
What are the challenges of democracy?
Democracy is a complex System of Government, and it faces many challenges. Some of the challenges of democracy include:
- Corruption
- Inefficiency
- Unresponsiveness
- Instability
- Tyranny of the majority
What are the benefits of democracy?
Democracy has many benefits, including:
- It gives the people a say in how they are governed.
- It promotes equality and justice.
- It can lead to more effective government.
- It can help to prevent conflict and war.
- It can promote Economic Development.
What is the future of democracy?
The future of democracy is uncertain. There are many challenges facing democracy, but there are also many reasons to be optimistic about its future. Democracy is a system that has evolved over time, and it is constantly being adapted to meet new challenges. As long as people continue to believe in the values of democracy, it will have a bright future.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a principle of democracy?
(A) Rule of Law
(B) Equality before the law
(C) Adult franchise
(D) Separation of Powers
Answer
(C) Adult franchise is not a principle of democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.
Question 2
Which of the following is not a feature of a democratic government?
(A) Regular elections
(B) Freedom of speech
(C) Adult franchise
(D) A strong central government
Answer
(D) A strong central government is not a feature of a democratic government. In a democracy, the government is accountable to the people and there is a separation of powers.
Question 3
Which of the following is not a benefit of democracy?
(A) It promotes peace and stability
(B) It protects individual rights
(C) It allows for the peaceful transfer of power
(D) It leads to economic development
Answer
(D) Democracy does not necessarily lead to economic development. There are many examples of countries that are democratic but have not experienced significant economic Growth.
Question 4
Which of the following is not a challenge to democracy?
(A) Corruption
(B) POVERTY
(C) Inequality
(D) Adult franchise
Answer
(D) Adult franchise is not a challenge to democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.
Question 5
Which of the following is not a way to improve democracy?
(A) Increase voter turnout
(B) Reduce corruption
(C) Promote education
(D) Adult franchise
Answer
(D) Adult franchise is not a way to improve democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.
Question 6
Which of the following is not a type of democracy?
(A) Direct democracy
(B) Representative democracy
(C) Presidential democracy
(D) Adult franchise
Answer
(D) Adult franchise is not a type of democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.
Question 7
Which of the following is not a criticism of democracy?
(A) It is too slow
(B) It is too expensive
(C) It is too easily manipulated
(D) Adult franchise
Answer
(D) Adult franchise is not a criticism of democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.
Question 8
Which of the following is not a reason why democracy is important?
(A) It promotes peace and stability
(B) It protects individual rights
(C) It allows for the peaceful transfer of power
(D) It leads to economic development
Answer
(D) Democracy does not necessarily lead to economic development. There are many examples of countries that are democratic but have not experienced significant economic growth.
Question 9
Which of the following is not a way to protect democracy?
(A) Promote education
(B) Reduce corruption
(C) Increase voter turnout
(D) Adult franchise
Answer
(D) Adult franchise is not a way to protect democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.
Question 10
Which of the following is not a way to promote democracy?
(A) Increase voter turnout
(B) Reduce corruption
(C) Promote education
(D) Adult franchise
Answer
(D) Adult franchise is not a way to promote democracy. It is a right that is granted to citizens of a country to vote in elections.