United States Senate Select Committee on Woman Suffrage facts for kids

The Select Committee on Woman Suffrage was a special group in the United States Senate. It worked from 1882 to 1921. Its main job was to look at a new rule for the U.S. Constitution. This rule would give women the right to vote across the United States.

How the Committee Started and Changed

The Senate created this special committee on January 9, 1882. This happened after Senator George Hoar from Massachusetts suggested it. The committee's job was to review all requests. These requests were about giving women the right to vote. They also looked at removing any laws that held women back.

A rule to give women the right to vote was first suggested on January 10, 1878. Senator Aaron Augustus Sargent from California proposed this. Similar rules were brought up in Congress every year. They were sent to this committee. This continued until 1919.

In 1919, a new rule passed both parts of Congress. This rule later became the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The 19th Amendment finally gave women the right to vote.

From Special to Standing Committee

In 1909, the committee changed. Senator Nelson Aldrich from Rhode Island helped make this happen. He suggested a new rule. This rule made all special committees, including the Woman Suffrage committee, into "standing committees." A standing committee is a permanent group. It works on specific topics all the time.

The Woman Suffrage committee kept working until 1921. At that time, it was closed down. Many other old committees were also ended.

Important Voices for Women's Vote

A famous leader for women's voting rights was Susan B. Anthony. She spoke to the committee many times. Her last time speaking to them was in 1902. She worked hard to help women get the right to vote.

Leaders of the Committee

The person in charge of a committee is called the chairman. Here is a list of the senators who led the Select Committee on Woman Suffrage: