congressional approval in 1960 and was ratified the following year. It was part of the endeavor to obtain for D.C. residents political rights equal to those of citizens of the States. Although this step fell short of the "home rule" sought for the District, it was a major step toward more extensive political participation by its citizens. The 100th anniversary of the Constitution occasioned celebrations across the land and such special tributes as a "Centennial March." The civil-rights struggle of black people in the 1950's and early 1960's resulted in the 24th amendment, which was proposed in 1962 and ratified 2 years later. It outlawed poll taxes as a prerequisite for voting in Federal elections. This device had long been used in some places to limit political participation, especially by blacks. The long illnesses of Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Dwight D. Eisenhower and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, coupled with the enormous contemporary importance of the Presidency, gave rise to the 25th amendment. It was passed by Congress in 1965 and ratified in 1967. Steps to be followed in the event of Presidential disability were outlined, and a method was established for expeditiously filling vacancies in the office of Vice President. When there is no Vice President, the President will nominate a replacement, who needs only approval by a congressional majority. In the event of Presidential disability, the Vice President will temporarily hold the office of Acting President. The 26th amendment, proposed and ratified in 1971, provided another extension of the franchise. In recognition of the increasing contributions of youth to American society, the minimum voting age in all elections was lowered to at least 18 years. Although a few States, in accordance with their discretionary rights at the time, had earlier reduced the voting age from 21, this constitutional addition made the national franchise uniform in terms of minimum age. When this volume went to press, another amendment, which would ban discrimination based on sex (the "equal rights" amendment), had been proposed to the States, in 1972, but all the required 38 States had not yet ratified it. DESPITE its numerous advantages, the amendment process has proven to be less than perfect as a vehicle of change. Although the rigorous procedure required to enact amendments has prevented hasty and ill-advised action, it has on occasion delayed the inauguration of badly needed reforms. The brief and sometimes imprecise wording of the amendments, as well as of the Constitution itself, has necessitated prolonged and complex interpretation by the Supreme Court. The public and various governmental organs have on occasion failed to heed or fully execute our highest national law. "We the People," theme painting and official poster of the Constitution Sesquicentennial Celebration, as rendered by Howard Chandler Christy. Whatever the flaws in our constitutional system, it enunciates our democratic principles and provides a superlative formula and instrument of Government, which has established its primacy among the efforts of men to govern themselves. Yet the true guardian of our sacred charter of liberties is the vigilance of the people. |