In honor of LAW DAY (May 1), civic and law
leaders Lucas Benitez, Jo-Anne
Chasnow, and Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins participated in
online conversations about law, diversity, and the vote during the spring of 2000. We
invite you to review the transcripts for these
conversations. To get a better idea of the conversation topics, start by reading the
background materials on voting by clicking on the links below, and then completing the
related activities in your classroom, or with a group. Let us know what you came up with!
Although the United States is a nation of peoples of diverse origins, common experience
binds us together. The experience of citizenship under the law is common to all.
By law, most citizens of the United States are guaranteed the right to vote. This right
has been hard-won and has become gradually more inclusive. We have moved from an
electorate composed primarily of landowning, white, Protestant men to an electorate that
includes women and people from all racial, ethnic, religious, and occupational
backgrounds.
On Election Day, we join together to forge new relationships between ourselves and our
government by choosing people to represent our common good.
Voting is hard work. The work is the challenge of democracy. When the 26th Amendment to
the Constitution granting 18-year-olds the right to vote was ratified, former U.S. Senator
Birch Bayh said he hoped it would “challenge young Americans to accept even more
responsibility.”
The purpose of the Online Conversation with Leaders in the Law is to stimulate
conversations about law, voting, diversity, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
Young people across the country had the opportunity to pose questions to these leaders
on timely topics via the ABA Web board in March 2000.
In these web pages you’ll find articles, activities, resources, and opportunities
to address these important topics yourself. Join our discussion. Start your own. Let the
conversation begin!
For more information contact Michelle Parrini by e-mail at parrinim@staff.abanet.org
or by telephone at 312-988-5739.
Online Conversations
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