Many would argue that celebrities should not involve themselves in politics simply because entertainers should entertain and leave politics to the professionals. Should he have spoken about his beliefs and support for the Republican party so passionately and so publicly? With over 12.5 million followers on Twitter alone, Kanye made his political stance clear to every single one of his fans. When Kanye West entered the White House wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat to publicly show his support for Donald Trump it spoke volumes it was shared over multiple news platforms, across social media and it left people talking. People may be getting even more confused when celebrities become involved. Whether this is in relation to Trump, Brexit or any other controversial political events many ordinary citizens have been left confused. The act of voting is one way that citizens can carry out their duties and create the society they want to live in.We have recently endured a tumultuous period in the political world and have been continually bombarded with information to the point that it is difficult to know what to believe. A strong democracy depends on informed citizens who care about the welfare of others, their communities, and the world. It was not until 1920, when the Nineteenth Amendment forbid the denial of voting rights on the basis of sex, that women had the right to vote.īeing a citizen comes with important rights, privileges, and responsibilities.

This left half of the American population unable to vote.

The purpose of this amendment was to enfranchise African American men. The Fifteenth Amendment of 1870 said that the government cannot keep a citizen from voting based on his 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude'. Citizenship gives people privileges, immunities, equal protection, and due process of law. In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship to everyone born or naturalized in the United States. We needed to establish who was an American citizen to have a uniform standard for voting eligibility. Instead, each state had its own laws about who could vote. The original Constitution and Bill of Rights did not protect the right to vote. Only wealthy white men could make their voices heard in this particular way. People without money, property, or an education have also been prevented from voting. At one point, women, people of color, and immigrants could not vote. But throughout history, different groups were not allowed to take part in the voting process. Today, almost all American citizens aged 18 years and older have the right to vote. The right to vote (also called suffrage or enfranchisement) means that Americans have the right to be heard. It is an opportunity for Americans to choose our leaders and have a say in important issues that affect our communities. Voting is a way for us to express our opinions and choices. In the United States, people have long fought to have their voices heard. Have you ever wanted your voice to be heard? National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Famous people with voicey opinions