The U.S. Constitution in its First Amendment mandates Congress to pass laws allowing the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right of the people to peaceably assemble.

There was no particular provision therein expressing the right to vote or the conduct of free elections.  However, the qualifications required to vote are set by the respective federal states. Common three requirements to vote,  include:  1) must be a citizen of the state;  2) an inhabitant or resident of the state;  and  3)  at least 18 years old.

Before, only the rich and professionals can run for public office.  Presently, the right to suffrage has been continuously enhanced  to uphold the freedoms of expression and association. No law discriminates against citizens due to race, color or language minority status.  Similarly, no literacy tests and other devices are required by law in order to register and vote.

Under  the Voting Acts Right, there are provisions on the federal absentee voting, handling of federal election records, overseas citizens voting, and  voting by the elderly and the handicapped.

There are three types of direct participation, namely:  initiative, referendum and recall.  The Initiative process is a petition done by gathering signatures before a  proposed law is brought to the congress and voted upon.  Referendum is a process through a popular vote whether to approve or reject a measure, usually answerable by “Yes” or “No.”  And, in a Recall process, a legislative or executive official is removed from office through a vote of qualified voters before his term ends.

A system of republican form of government is provided by the U.S. Constitution for individual states;  while a representative democracy for the federal government.   Presidential elections is done by direct popular vote on a Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years.  In the House, representatives has the same schedule, in every even numbered year.  In  the Senate,  “at the regular election held in any State next preceding the expiration of the term for which any Senator was elected to represent such State in Congress, at which election a Representative to Congress is regularly by law to be chosen.”