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Knowledge Networks
Survey of Americans' Attitudes toward Democracy

Conducted for
National Conference of State Legislatures

Citizenship: A Challenge for All Generations (14-page Published Report).
To read portable document format (.pdf) files, you must install Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Questionnaire

S2. Are you currently in High School? [Results]

• Yes
• No

Asked only 15 to 26 year olds.
Q1. Please click the button below to indicate how interested you think you might be in a career in each of the following: [Results]

Asked only 15 to 26 year olds.
Q2. Thinking about your high school experience did you take any courses that had to do with civics or American government? [Results]

• Yes
• No-
• Can't remember-

Asked only 15 to 26 year olds.
Q3. As a result of these courses, would you say your interest in things like politics and issues: [Results]

• Increased a good deal
• Increased some
• Stayed the same
• Decreased some
• Decreased a good deal

Asked only those currently in high schools "yes" to S2
Q3A. If you had a chance to meet a state legislator or member of Congress in person at your school, do you think you would [Results]

• Want to do it
• Not want to do it
• Wouldn't care one way or the other

Q4A. Is the nation's capital in: [Results]

• Atlanta, GA
• Washington, D.C.
• Boston, MA
• Philadelphia, PA
• New York City
• Don't Know

Q4B. Who won the recent American Idol competition [Results]

• Clay Aiken
• Karl Kurtz
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Kimberly Locke
• Ruben Studdard
• Don't know

Q4C. In what community does the TV family "The Simpsons" live [Results]

• Springfield
• Sunnydale
• Columbus
• Denver
• Mountain View
• Don't know

Q4D. Who is the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives [Results]

• Tom DeLay
• George W. Bush
• Dennis Hastert
• Nancy Pelosi
• Newt Gingrich
• Don't know

Q5A. Which statement better reflects your views? [Results]

Q5B. People often disagree about what it takes to be a good citizen. For each item please check whether or not you think someone must do it to be considered a good citizen. [Results]

Q6. Thinking about the last couple of years, have you spent time participating in any volunteer activity, or haven't you had time to do this? By volunteer activity, I mean not just belonging to a service organization, but actually working in some way to help others for no monetary pay. [Results]

• Yes, have done it in last 12 months
• Yes, but have not done it in last 12 months
• No, have not done it in last couple of years

Q7. Have you contacted or visited a public official to express your opinion or ask for assistance? [Results]

• Yes, within last 12 months
• Yes, but not within last 12 months
• No, haven't done it

Q8. Have you worked on a campaign or contributed money to a candidate, a political party, or any organization that supports candidates? [Results]

• Yes, within last 12 months
• Yes, but not within last 12 months
• No, haven't done it

Q9. Would official records show that you [Results]

• Are registered to vote
• Not eligible to register /not a citizen-SKIP TO Q13
• Eligible, but not registered to vote-SKIP TO Q11
• Don't know what records would show

Q10. Since you have been old enough to vote, have you voted in [Results]

• All elections-GO TO Q12
• Most elections-GO TO Q12
• Some elections
• Not many or no elections

Q11. Please check as many of the following reasons that apply to why you [ if q9=3, then show 'are not registered'/if q10=3,4, then show 'don't always vote']. [Results]

• It's hard to get reliable information about the candidates.
• I'm not interested in politics.
• I don't have time/I'm often away/It's inconvenient.
• There's often no difference between the two candidates.
• I'm not informed enough to make a decision.
• I am turned off by the process/negative political advertising
• I can make more of a difference by volunteering in my local community.
• I dislike politics and government/I don't trust politics.
• My one vote isn't going to make much of a difference.
• None of the above.

Q12. Please check as many of the following reasons that apply to why you vote most or all of the time. [Results]

• It's a responsibility or duty.
• I don't want to be thought of as a slacker.
• It's a way to influence the direction of government.
• It's a way to affect how specific issues will be decided.
• It makes me feel good.
• Most of my friends/family are voters.
• None of the above.

Q13. How much power do you think each of the following groups has? [Results]

Q14. [Results]

Q15. [Results]

Q16. [Results]

Q17. [Results]

Q18. [Results]

Q19. In general, how often do you follow what is happening in government and politics? [Results]

• Regularly
• Sometimes
• Once in a while
• Almost Never

Q20. What are your primary sources of information about government and politics? [Results]

Q21A. When you were growing up, how often did you talk about politics and government in your family [Results]

• Regularly
• Sometimes
• Once in a while
• Almost Never
• Don't know/Don't remember

Q21B. And did your parents generally [Results]

• Have a positive view of politics and government
• Have a negative view of politics and government
• Have mixed views
• Neither positive or negative
• Don't knowDon't remember

Q22A. How about now: Are most of your friends [Results]

• Very interested in government and politics
• Somewhat interested in government and politics
• Not too interested in government and politics
• Not at all interested in government and politics
• Don't know

Q22B. And do most of your friends generally [Results]

• Have a positive view of politics and government
• Have a negative view of politics and government
• Have mixed views
• Neither positive or negative
• Don't know

Q23. How important do you think it is for high schools to teach about civics and government: [Results]

• Very important
• Important
• Not important
• Not at all important
• Not sure

Q24. Do you think that high schools today spend: [Results]

• Too much time on civics and government
• Too little time on civics and government
• The right amount of time
• Not sure

On the next few screens, you will see several pairs of opposing statements. For each pair, please click on the button that most closely fits your opinion on an opposing pair of statements.

Q25. [Results]

Q26. [Results]

Q27. [Results]

Q28. [Results]

Q29. In your state, is the Governor a: [Results]

• Republican
• Democrat
• Independent
• Don't know

Q30. And which party has a majority in the house/assembly and senate in your state legislature (SKIP IN NEBRASKA) [Results]

• Republicans
• Democrats
• One party controls the house/assembly and another the senate
• Don't know

Q31. Do you know which party has a majority in the house and senate of the U.S. Congress [Results]

• Republicans
• Democrats
• One party controls the house and another the senate
• Don't know

NCSL's Trust for Representative Democracy

Representative Democracy in America Project

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