Welcome to the Fresno State Bulldog Newspaper Student Survey Form The Challenge of Democracy.

We want to share our ideas with you and understand your views on American government and politics. To this end, we have devised a short survey that you can take right from this web page.

Your responses to the questions below will help us gauge your current knowledge, assess attitudes, and provide feedback for you and your instructors. Responses are confidential and only composite results (rather than individual responses) will be gathered.

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I. Your Interest In and Knowledge about Politics

1. How would you rate your knowledge of American government and politics right now?

click here 1. Very Weak 2. Weak 3. Moderate 4. Strong 5. Very Strong

2.What was the most important reason for your interest in politics?

click here 1. It was one of the requirements for my major/school. 2. I am interested in the subject of American politics. 3. I need a course in this area, and it fit into my schedule. 4. The instructor's reputation as a good teacher. 5. The course is known for little work and easy grading. 6. Some other reason.

3. In general, how interested are you in American government and politics?

click here 1. Very little 2. Little 3. Moderately 4. Rather interested 5. Very much

4. Right now, do you plan to take other courses in American government and politics?

click here 1. No plans to do so 2. Probably not 3. Probably will 4. Yes

5. Which party, the Democrats or the Republicans, has the most members in the U.S. House at present?

click here 1. Democrats 2. Republicans 3. not sure

6. Which party, the Democrats or the Republicans, has the most members in the U.S. Senate?

click here 1. Democrats 2. Republicans 3. not sure

7. Is there a limit on the number of terms in office a president of the U.S. can serve or not?

click here 1. Yes, there is a limit 2. No, there is no limit 3. not sure

8. How many years is a single term in office for a U.S. Senator?

click here 1. 2 years 2. 4 years 3. 6 years 4. 8 years 5. 12 years

9. At the national level, is one of the two major parties more conservative than the other?

click here 1. Yes, the Democrats are more conservative. 2. The parties don't differ much on ideology. 3. Yes, the Republicans are more conservative. 4. Not sure which party is more conservative.

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Please identify the last names of the following government officials:

10. Majority leader of the U.S. Senate

click here Tom Daschle Ted Kennedy Trent Lott Newt Gingrich

11. Speaker of the U.S. House

click here Tom DeLay Newt Gingrich Dick Gephardt Dick Armey

12. Chief Justice of Supreme Court

click here Warren Burger Stephen Breyer Antonin Scalia William Rehnquist

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Were any of these pieces of legislation passed by Congress during the last three years?

13. Providing for a national health insurance plan

click here 1. Yes 2. No 3. not sure

14. Limiting the number of terms members of Congress can serve

click here 1. Yes 2. No 3. not sure

15. Passing a proposed Constitution amendment requiring that the budget be balanced annually

click here 1. Yes 2. No 3. not sure

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16. Which party favors making greater reductions in future Medicare and Medicaid spending?

click here 1. Democrats 2. Republicans 3. not sure

17. Is more of the federal budget now spent on Medicare, or is more spent on foreign aid?

click here 1. More spent on Medicare 2. both about the same 3. Foreign aid 4. not sure

18. Which country has the lowest tax burden? (computed as percent of gross domestic product)

click here 1. U.S 2. U.K. 3. Sweden 4. Italy 5. Germany 6. France 7. Austria 8. Canada 9. Japan

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II: Your Political Beliefs

19. Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat, Independent or what?

click here 1. Strong Democrat 2. Democrat 3. Independent, but leaning Democratic 4. Straight Independent 5. Independent, but leaning Republican 6. Republican 7. Strong Republican

20. Do your parents agree or disagree with your political party preference?

click here 1. They agree with me 2. One agrees; the other doesn't care 3. One agrees and the other disagrees 4. One disagrees; the other doesn't care 5. Both disagree 6. Neither care very much about politics

21. How would you rate your own political orientation on the following scale?

click here 1. Very Liberal 2. Liberal 3. Moderate 4. Conservative 5. Very Conservative

22. In your opinion, do U.S. political parties have too much power, or too little power?

click here 1. definitely too much power 2. probably too much 3. about right 4. probably too little 5. definitely too little

23. Some people think the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses. Others think that government should do more to solve our country's problems. Which comes closer to your own view?

click here 1. The government is definitely doing too much. 2. The government is probably doing too much. 3. Not sure. 4. The government is probably doing too little. 5. The government is definitely doing too little.

24. Some people think the government should promote traditional values in our society. Others think the government should not favor any particular set of values. Which is closer to your own view?

click here 1. definitely should promote traditional values 2. probably should promote traditional values 3. not sure 4. probably should not favor any set of values 5. definitely should not favor any set of values

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III: Your Experience With Computers

25. Do you have a microcomputer in your room?

click here 1. No 2. Yes, my roommate's 3. Yes, my own

26. How well do you use computers, relative to your classmates?

click here 1. Not well 2. Below average 3. Average 4. Above average 5. Very well

27. How frequently do you access the Internet or World Wide Web (WWW)?

click here 1. Rarely 2. Two or three times a week 3. Once or twice a day 4. Several times each day

28. Have you ever used the WWW in a course at your university or college?

click here 1. No, never used the Internet as a course requirement 2. Yes, in one course, but in a minor way 3. Yes, in one course, and in a major way 4. Yes, more than once, but only in minor ways 5. Yes, more than once, but only once in a major way 6. Yes, more than once, sometimes in major ways

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IV: You and Your Background

29. Year in college:

click here 1. freshman 2. sophomore 3. junior 4. senior 5. graduate student 6. Special status (e.g., continuing education)

30. Gender:

click here 1. Male 2. Female

31. Your ethnicity is:

click here 1. White 2. Afro-American 3. Hispanic 4. Asian 5. Other

32. Field of major or preference:

click here 1. Political Science 2. Other social science 3. Business 4. Humanities/Music/Art 5. Natural Science/Math 6. Engineering/Technical 7. Journalism/Speech 8. Agriculture/Forestry 9. Education 0. Other

33. What is/was the usual occupation of the main income-earner in your parental household?

click here 1. factory work/construction/equipment operator 2. service: police, fireman, domestic 3. clerical work or sales 4. management: business/industry 5. proprietor; business owner 6. lawyer/teacher 7. doctor/dentist 8. other professional: engineer, clergy, accountant 9. farm/agriculture/forestry 0. other

34. Where in the U.S. did you spend most of your high-school years?

click here 1. not spent in U.S.--in a non-English speaking country 2. not spent in U.S.--in an English speaking country 3. Midwest 4. Northeast 5. Mountain state 6. Border state 7. Far west 8. South 9. Other

35. How would you classify the community in which you spent most of that time?

click here 1. rural farm 2. rural non-farm 3. small town (under 30,000) 4. large town (30,000-100,000) 5. urban (100,000-500,000) 6. Metropolitan (Over 500,000)

36. OPTIONAL QUESTION. Your religion is:

click here 1. Evangelical Protestant 2. Mainline Protestant 3. Catholic 4. Jewish 5. Islamic 6. Other 7. None in particular

37. OPTIONAL QUESTION. Roughly speaking, what would you estimate your parental income to be?

click here 1. Under $10,000 2. $10,000 to $20,000 3. $20,000 to $35,000 4. $35,000 to 50,000 5. $50,000 to 70,000 6. $70,000 to 100,000 7. $100,000 to 150,000 8. $150,000 to 250,000 9. Over $250,000

Review your answers to make sure they are correct before pressing the "submit" button. That will record your answers and end the survey.