A) Equal Pay Act of 1963 INCORRECT The Equal Pay Act, signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, aimed to abolish wage disparity based on sex. It amended the Fair Labor Standards Act and required that men and women receive equal pay for equal work in the same establishment. While a significant step for gender equality, it does not relate to voting rights or the Fifteenth Amendment. Its focus is on employment discrimination, not on the enforcement of constitutional voting protections.
B) Clean Water Act of 1972 INCORRECT The Clean Water Act is a fundamental environmental law that regulates the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters and sets quality standards for surface waters. It was enacted to address water pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems. This legislation has no connection to voting rights or the Fifteenth Amendment. It is an example of environmental policy, not civil rights enforcement.
C) Voting Rights Act of 1965 CORRECT The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the correct answer because it was specifically designed to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment. It outlawed discriminatory voting practices such as literacy tests and provided for federal oversight of elections in jurisdictions with a history of discrimination. The Act was a direct response to the persistent disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South, despite the constitutional guarantee. It is considered a landmark achievement of the civil rights movement and has been instrumental in expanding voter participation.
D) Selective Service Act of 1940 INCORRECT The Selective Service Act of 1940 was the first peacetime draft in U.S. history, establishing the system for conscripting men into military service. It was enacted in response to the growing threats of World War II and required all men aged 21 to 35 to register. This act is unrelated to voting rights or the Fifteenth Amendment. Its purpose was national defense, not civil rights enforcement.
