AN ACT To enforce the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act shall be known as the "Voting Rights Act of 1965." (1.1-2)

The opening lines work more like an abstract than anything. If someone was skimming the first lines of every Act ever put into play, they should know more or less what the act is about at a glance. This puppy is putting the Voting Rights Act on the map.

But it's kind of a cliffhanger, too. What is this mysterious Voting Rights Act? Read on to find out more!

Okay, so it's not quite as provocative as "Call me Ishmael," or "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." But it does contain a nugget of suspense.