Universal Suffrage (Noun)
Meaning
Suffrage for all adults who are not disqualified by the laws of the country.
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The concept of universal suffrage has been adopted by many countries around the world, ensuring that all eligible citizens have an equal say in the democratic process.
- In ancient Athens, universal suffrage was practiced among the citizenry, but only men who were born to Athenian parents were considered citizens.
- The women's suffrage movement fought tirelessly for the right to vote, which was eventually granted through the passage of the 19th Amendment, extending universal suffrage to all American women.
- Some argue that universal suffrage is not a panacea for all societal ills, as it can be exploited by those who would manipulate the electoral process for their own gain.
- The country's adoption of universal suffrage was a major milestone in its transition to democracy, as it gave all adult citizens an equal voice in the election of their leaders.