Which summary best describes the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

• A. Prohibits discrimination in voting; eliminates literacy tests; authorizes federal enforcement.
• B. Bans segregation in public accommodations.
• C. Creates a new department of education.
• D. Expands U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

Answer: (A)

The voting rights act of 1965 focuses on making voting accessible to all citizens by removing barriers and protecting the right to vote. The best summary emphasizes three main elements: prohibiting discrimination in voting, eliminating literacy tests and similar devices that had been used to disenfranchise voters, and authorizing federal enforcement to oversee elections in jurisdictions with a history of discrimination. This captures both the guarantees and the enforcement mechanism that made the act effective. The other choices point to actions tied to different laws or issues—public accommodations, education, or foreign policy—so they don’t describe what the act does.