The Right to Vote

Important Terms

Suffrage

- the right to vote in public elections

Election

- the right of people to choose the persons to whom they entrust the power of government for a definite and fixed period.

Plebiscite

- a vote by which the people of the entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plebiscite)

Referendum

- a general vote made by the people of a country for or against a particular government proposal or law.

Initiative

- a process that allows citizens to propose legislation by petition

Recall

- the procedure by which a public official may be removed from office by popular vote (The American Heritage Dictionary)




TRIVIAS

- Women Suffrage in the Philippines was first exercised on December 14, 1937 in a local election

- Carmen Planas, the first woman elected as city councilor of Manila in 1937

- Elisa R. Ochoa, the first woman elected to the House of Representative in 1941