The Most Fundamental Right: Contrasting Perspectives on the Voting Rights Act

McCool, Daniel [Editor]; Adegbile, Debo P. [Contributor]; Blum, Edward [Contributor]; Clegg, Roger [Contributor]; Engstrom, Richard [Contributor]; McCrary, Peyton [Contributor]; McDonald, Laughlin [Contributor]; Nelson, Chris [Contributor]; Sells, Bryan [Contributor]; Thernstrom, Abigail [Contributor]; Tucker, James Thomas [Contributor];

ISBN 10: 0253001943 / ISBN 13: 9780253001948

Published by Indiana University Press, 2012

About this Item

Never read, no marks or highlighting in the book. Our copy is paperback showing light shelf-wear.

Seller Inventory # 21-1203-093-57

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Most Fundamental Right: Contrasting Perspectives on the Voting Rights Act
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253001943
• ISBN 13: 9780253001948
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: As New
• Weight: 22 ounces
• Seller catalogs:
  • Social Studies

About this title

Synopsis

Passed in 1965 during the height of the Civil Rights movement, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) changed the face of the American electorate, dramatically increasing minority voting, especially in the South. While portions of the Act are permanent, certain provisions were set to expire in 2007. Reauthorization of these provisions passed by a wide margin in the House, and unanimously in the Senate, but the lopsided tally hid a deep and growing conflict. The Most Fundamental Right is an effort to understand the debate over the Act and its role in contemporary American democracy. Is the VRA the cornerstone of civil rights law that prevents unfair voting practices, or is it an anachronism that no longer serves American democracy? Divided into three sections, the book utilizes a point/counterpoint approach. Section 1 explains the legal and political context of the Act, providing important background for what follows; Section 2 pairs three debates concerning specific provisions or applications of the Act; while Section 3 offers commentaries on the previous chapters from attorneys with widely divergent viewpoints.

About the Author

Daniel McCool is Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah and author (with Susan Olson and Jennifer Robinson) of Native Vote: American Indians, the Voting Rights Act, and the Right to Vote.