A Report Card on New York's Civic Literacy

8/7/2019 A Report Card on New York's Civic Literacy

1/40

B C J at New York University School o Law

a r e p o rt c a r d o n

n e w y o r k s

c i v i c l i t e r a c y

E LM B


2/40

ABOUT THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE

T B C J N Y U S L -

j. O ,

j . A ,

, B C , ,

, .

ABOUT THE BRENNAN CENTERS DEMOCRACY PROGRAM

T B C D P A . W

. W F A-

j . W

, , .

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Eric Lane E J. S D P P L P S H U S

L, 1976. H . H

- x H A J. M. H

M O, S M E A P, Te Genius o America: How the

Consitution Saved Our CountryAnd Why It Can Again. P L S F B C J.

Meg Barnette, C O O (COO) B C, V P S I

P P N Y C. M. B S F L A N Y

J R P. P, J. U.S. D C S D N Y. S J.D.

NYU S L, R- S, B.A. U C.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

T G LM A P, M W, F S, S

L, J P-C, D L, J , E W. T H L

R W W S, H L A L M DI, D P

E S U N Y S B.

11. T C C A-N D-NC ( ://

.). I B C J ,

C , . T

, , C . P B C J .


3/40

table of contents

exuiv summry 1

I. Irdui 2

II. th nw Yrk survy 4

III. th fidig 4

A. New Yorkers Knowledge of Current Federal Representatives 4

B. New Yorkers Attitudes about the U.S. Constitution 6

C. New Yorkers Knowledge of Foundational Ideas 7

D. New Yorkers Knowledge about the Structure and Processes

of U.S. Government 13

IV. Hw D W buid civi liry? sh! 17

V. cui d addii Rmmdi 21

ed 23

appdix: survy Qui d tpi Ru 26


4/40


5/40

new york civic literacy survey|

I. IntRoDUctIon

Meaningul democracy requires civic literacy. A -

. D , P U P

A G. T A , -

, . I A C

, ,

. R,

, . M

, [ ] , ,

.3

T M D C S K 1996 , What Ameri-

cans Know About Politics and Why It Matters. C

, , . A,

- , , .4

W , . A A

, x . W -

,

, . T . T

. R, x

.

Few Americans are engaged in their democracy. H , A

?F , N C S L (NCSL),

-, -, , -

x , .5 M

, N Y . A NCSL , Y

; ;

-; A .6 A 1988

1976;

A D.7 A 6 N R C

C U S D E, A , 4 ,

Procient, j .8

E , 8, . T ,

N Y 3.5 , G ,

C , .9 N, 1 37.8 .1

N ,

, , , , . A C


6/40

3 | brennan center for justice

C C I R C L E (CIRCLE) : I

A

.11 T

x. P . T

x. T .1 O .

Civic illiteracy puts American democracy at risk. H, J S D OC,

, ? H

, J D S, ,

, , .13 T S W, A

5, :

D , .

I , , , .

I x -

. D .14

F , sine qua non A R.

[A] - , J M, C-

. A J W, L j

, j . G W

:

;

; x ;

x S;

L , ; , , L.15

M, W, W , G-

W, , M x , .16

A , F j

:

. W , , ,

, , , Bj R.17

T , - . T P D E

:

x q.18

Civic literacy makes us Americans. A , . A

. W A C,

, ,


7/40

new york civic literacy survey| 4

, , , . P G W. B : A

. W ,

. E .19 A ,

C, , , , , , -

, j.

II. tHe neW YoRK sURVeY

T C,

, A. Y

q j . L q -

x ,

. A , x, A , -

, C, ,

, C

.

A , x N

Y C. O q (..,

C, H R, .),

C . T

q .

III. tHe fInDInGs:

nw Yrkr Kwdg curr fdr Rpriv

Fity-eight percent o New Yorkers do not respond correctly when asked to name either o the two current New

York members o the U.S. Senate.

Seventy percent o respondents could identiy the speaker o the U.S. House o Representatives when given a

list to choose rom.

M .W q , q .

I N Y C, , ,

, ,

.3 A .

T - q, N Y S

S U.S. H R .

Jui Dvid sur wr h rpui

, i i ig , i i , i i

i udrd.


8/40


MetHoDoloGY

We retained Princeton Survey Research Associates International to work with us on designing and implementing the

survey.20 Our efforts were designed to reach as broad a cross section of New York State residents as possible, as

discussed below.

Over the course of two weeks during the summer of 2010 (June 21-July 8), Princeton Survey Research AssociatesInternational completed 1,010 telephone interviews with New Yorkers throughout the state, using both landline and

cell phone numbers. Only individuals who said they were at least 18 years old and registered to vote in New York were

included in the 1,010 completes. Our choice to poll only registered voters narrowed it to citizens who have participated

in the political process, at least in that limited respect.21 The margin of sampling error for the weighted data based on

registered voters is 3.7 percentage points.

The telephone interviews averaged 17 minutes in length, and all were conducted in English.

As is standard practice, the total sample (which included those who were not registered to vote) was weighted to

match New York State population parameters to compensate for sample designs and patterns of non-response that

might bias results. Generally, the sample as weighted reects the diversity of the states voters in terms of geography,

race, household income, educational level, and other attributes.22

Within the category of educational characteristics, we included questions about whether respondents had attendedelementary, junior high, and high school in New York. Seventy-six percent of respondents were schooled in New York

State, with an additional two percent reporting that they were schooled mostly in New York. Twenty-two percent went

to school elsewhere.

Participants were asked whether, at the time of the interview, they considered themselves to be a Republican,

Democrat, or Independent. Participants were not asked to report their actual party registration. 23 percent identied

as Republicans, 39 percent as Democrats, and 31 percent as Independents.

The main body of the survey consisted of a series of questions assessing respondents views of the United States

Constitution and testing their understanding of the principles underlying the Constitution, as well as the structure and

processes it sets out. The questions were divided into the following groups:

New Yorkers knowledge of currently elected ofcials;

New Yorkers attitudes about the Constitution; New Yorkers knowledge of the foundational ideas on which the Constitution was built; and

New Yorkers knowledge of the institutions and processes of American government and governance.

Differences in levels of civic literacy are not consistent across most demographic groups. And perhaps most surprisingly,

higher levels of education do not translate consistently into higher levels of civic literacy. In fact, on some questions,

those with college degrees are just as likely to answer incorrectly as those who have never attended college.

We should note at the outset that New Yorkers are generally not familiar with their current representatives. While they

think highly of the Constitution and strongly believe in its centrality to the maintenance of American democracy, they

acknowledge their own unfamiliarity with the Constitution. The signicance of this gap is made even more apparent

when comparing their belief in the importance of civic literacy with the little they actually know.

The survey questions and top-line summary statistics of the responses are provided as an appendix to this report.

Further information on the survey results, including cross-tabulations, may be found at the Brennan Centers website,

http://www.brennancenter.org.


9/40


Prg rpd wh kw...

F- N Y N Y

U.S. S.

R , .

K G, N Y j S, , -S H C

S S. S G ,

. C S, , N Y S 1999

j . I N Y

, N 1

.

W N Y , . S N

P S U.S. H R 1 N P, C-

R, B Bx J B.

nw Yrkr aiud u h U.s. ciui

Almost eight out o ten New York voters believe in the central importance o the Constitution, but ewer than

two in ten consider themselves very amiliar with the document.

M q N Y U.S. C -

A , C

A . I , 86 , A q

U.S. C.

T C

N Y .

B C , N Y

. A N Y C,

. T N Y

curr U.s. sr

rm nw Yrk

curr spkr h

Hu (wh giv i

h rm)*

Pr wrig rry

42

70

* Respondents were asked to choose among Nancy Pelosi, Condoleezza Rice, Barbara Boxer and John Boehner.


10/40


11/40


Wh g w h U.s. ciui digd hiv?

N Y q. J - (3 )

C. A (47 ) ( -

) . Sx- C

. W q W

13 F ?N Y . J (35 )

C 13 3

. L - .

Strengthening the Federal Government

F - N Y C-

, C C 1787. T

F 11 I C

A C . [A]

q x F

P . W , G W,

. T S C (A.6, 1) C

U S .

U . F x,

-

, .

Christian Nation

P , N Y F

C C

F C .

Prg rpd wh

d h pi

32

35

31

17

) rig mr pwr-

u dr gvrm

) irig h pwr

h 13 rigi

d) dig i ri

wy wih h dmd

pi ir grup

) mkig ur h u-

ry w chrii i

Note: Only (a) and (d) are correct.


12/40


S A C -

, , . E

( ), q F

C . T C x , -

, q . A

C, A C F,

. T A

C

G, -

F

C .

Special Interests

F

F C , x - F .

J M j, C ,

F N. 1. T F , F-

, , . R , F

( ) -

.4 B C, ,

, , F

x . 5

Only 42 percent o New Yorks registered voters say that the Founders believed that peoples pursuit o their own

sel-interest would result in strie and conict.

A signicant number, 43 percent, assert incorrectly that the Framers believed people would live together in

reedom i government did not interere.

More than hal o respondents state that the Framers believed peoples religious belies would lead them to the

right decisions.

I q F , ,

.

W F C: () P

- , () I , -

, () P . O () .

fwr h w u kw h

dig wih dmd pi ir

grup i ri wy w g h

fudr i drig h ciui d

ruig ur ym gvrm.


13/40


Whih i h frmr hpd h ciui?

Selt-Interest

O 4 N Y F

- .

A F , N Y

. U

F . A J M

F 51, [W] , [?]

O . R,

M F 1, S ,

, -

x . O Bj F , M . . .

. T F

-. T , F

.

T

- q A . , -

- q x A -

C.

Government Interference

A , 43 , incorrectly F

. A

F.

Pr rpd wh d h pi

42

43

51

) Pp purui hir

w -ir wi

ru i ri d i

) Pp rigiu

i wi d hm

h righ dii

) I gvrm d

irr, pp wi iv

ghr i rdm

Note: Only (a) is correct.


14/40


T F

I C. I I, A,

C C, -

. B

C 1787, j x G W

. 6

T A ,

N Y F

-

-. T

q

.

Religion and Right Decisions

M F -

, . F

F .

A , F , A

. R

x F ,

, F

.

Only ve percent o respondents knew that the Constitution was designed to prevent both tyranny o the

majority and o a small, inuential minority.

W N Y U.S. C , ,

.

Deliberative Democracy

U F -

. N Y -

,

, ( ) , ,

x , . U, F

j , .

fwr h h dy nw Yrkr

udrd h rii h h

frmr ivd rg gvrm w

i dig wih h ivi

ri d i ruig rm h

purui -ir.


15/40


W : () ()

j . B .

Why i h U.s. Gvrm digd wy d diry?

A j, 53 ,

F . O q F

j. A F .

Prg rpd wh rry wrd h....

The Purpose of the Bill of Rights

I q 11, B R ( C-

) . W () , () , () x

?

M - (68 ) x, -

B R. Sx ( -

C ) x

.

Pr rpd

53

25

5

) prv m

iui grup rm

hvig muh pwr

) h

) prv h viw

h mjriy iiz

rm iy mig w

Note: (c) is correct.

Pr rpd

68

84

) prvidig xpii, wri pri

h righ idividu i h m

impr pr h bi Righ

) h pri pwr w -

ihd ur h ig rh

dmi h hr

) h ciui riid did

w amri v

84


16/40


Universal Suffrage

I q 1 13, N Y 1 C-

, , . A

A ,

, , . O

C .

O q, N Y . O 8 N Y C -

A 9

.

The Purpose of Separation of Powers

I q 14, N Y C. T F

j , , . W A ,

: () , () q

, () R P D P .

B () () .

A j (84 ) A

. F N Y (66 )

C q .

nw Yrkr Kwdg u h sruur d Pr U.s. Gvrm

W N Y q U S .

Only 42 percent o respondents could correctly answer all three questions about the diferent roles o the three

branches o government.

Only two-thirds o respondents correctly state that the President is in charge o the executive branch.

wo out o ve respondents did not know that the legislative branch makes laws or gave an incorrect answer.

Only 55 percent o respondents said that the Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

The Branches of Government

W N Y - q: x ,

, ?

G

, q . E j,

4 all threeq.


17/40


O - P x . N

P B O O . A N Y

. O 44

, 48 . I , 77

.

W , N Y

: C, , S U.S. H

R. S -

$5, .

O 55 S C ( j)

. I

J E K, .

The Filibuster

F 4 ,

U.S. S. W 6 ,

, j

, , , .

Legislative or Executive Powers?

W x N Y x. I

q -. W -

. T : () ; () -

; () x . O .

Prg rpd wh iv h cgr ....

Pr rpd

59

48

51

) vrrid v

) r x w

) r dprm

gvrm

Note: Only (a) and (b) are correct.


18/40


Prg rpd wh iv h h Prid ...

T x () j, () x , () . O . R , F .

W , , , .

T . T C , H

, Ex , . I

, q L.7

O 59 C . - -

. O 48 C . T

C . F-

, , C x .

I P, 85 N Y P j,

1 . O 61 P x ,

x N Y () P .

Constitutional Principles

W x N Y

F C. O

. I , , ,

. W N Y .

- N Y , I

. O , 9 E -

.

Pr rpd

85

61

62

) mi dr

judg

) dr wr

) xu h w

h ury

Note: Only (a) and (b) are correct.


19/40


The Role of Special Interests

I q 4, . I N Y

, : (1) -

; () .

E ,

. T C ,

. A

.

F -

. B , 39

.

Prg Rpd wh gr wih h wig m...

Federal Expansion Since the Great Depression

W x N Y x x

G D . O A -

x , , . W N Y x : ()

; () ; ()

.

T q j x

x .

Pr rpd

29

65

50

39

ed ii hud d

y hir i d ru

mprmi.

I i impr r d ii

g hig d i gvrm

v i hy hv mprmi.

spi ir grup r

pr dmry h hp mk

gvrm wrk.

spi ir grup k

h wi h pp d mk

gvrm dyui.


20/40


IV. HoW Do We bUIlD cIVIc lIteRacY? scHools!

S A ,

. T , , -

.8 N W, A

,9 O E Y A:

E A q . . . . A ,

;

. A -

A,

,

U S.3

T A

. S A. P , A G, , , -

. 31

A A . S

, q

. A, , ,

.

Te New York Commitment. A N Y S C ,

q B R3 -

.

U 81 N Y , R (1) , ,

() , , ,

U S, , , N Y

33 N Y q

x B R N Y U.S. C.34 N Y

q C ,

.35

T R, S S R G, :

[T] , , ,

A . U-

, A-

-

. F x,


21/40


q

. S -

, x,

j

.36

A N Y ,

;

U.S. ; U.S. C;

A ;

, , ,

.37

B N Y .

A , q N Y G P.W ? I q ? O -

j ?

W A . A

Report on the Civic Mission o Schools:

A

19, -

, ,

196 . . . B 1988 1998, -

49 39 , . P x ,

,

.

A -

, x /

.38

A N C

L B , N Y. F N Y q

. T q, . O, N Y

, N Y C . A 5 N Y C

C E C, [] 8 N Y

C [ 4],

.39 T , j 44 .4

Whvr rur wr vi

r ivi dui r w ig gry

rdud y h prd n chid l bhid

d i mphi mh d gug r,

i ry h i nw Yrk.


22/40


A x ,

q, N C L B .41 P ,

1 B R -

q, , x, ,

.4

C

. T

- .

A ,

. P, ,

. S, ,

, ,

, , , , j . T, -

. A CIRCLE

, ,

. B

, , ,

, , , .

B . T

, , -

. I ,

. I , , ,

( 57 1998). A 1988 1998, -

. 43

I , C M R :

(1) S q

.

() S , , ,

.

amri i ury did y d

r i. amri i id, r

id, u rdm d ppruiy.

I i h id h id u ghr

amri d hv kp u r,

rg, d prpru. bu h id

d prpu hmv. thy mu

ugh d rd w wih h

gri.


23/40


T N Y A

A . B

, , , . I , N C L B

A , , N Y,

.

C , A

A . D Bj F q

, , A

. do . A j

, ,

/ . T

H L S, j x x

,

. N . A

, . S - . N , .

O x. C P , -

M V S C

, , A C-

.44 B , A

.

N , N C L B, . I 1965 P L J

:

N : , -

; ,

; ,

.45

F ,

. B ,

, . T 1983

N C Ex E A Nation at Risk,

R A,

, 46 , . T A . O

x 19

, x

. I ,

N C L B A. A ( )

19- .


24/40


V. conclUsIons anD aDDItIonal RecoMMenDatIons

A, , . A ,

, . I A ,

, . B . T

. O ( )

.

C q

. I

, ,

. W ,

,

M S - ,

, , . 47

W , . W

, . W

, , - ,

. T ,

, .

P . A , , N Y

S, C. T

j x . T

. O j ,

.

M . T , N Y -

,

. T

. B real

, .

T . E

q , . W

A o all ages . R 7

. T x ,

.

W d ivi dui rvr hi

ur, d w d rhik hw w

mk ivi dui wrk. W d ivi

dui h rh ur iiz,

v h wh my vr i

rm gi.


25/40


W G C ,

N Y. T G N Y x

q N Y A -

, , . P :

x

-

I , , , x ,

R , ,

R - N Y

-

E

T ,

R -

x R x.

T :

G

D j

I

E

F j.


26/40


enDnotes

1 Derek Bok, he rouble With Government 43 ().

A G, Why Should Schools Care about Democratic Education?, in Rediscovering the Democratic Pur-

poses of Education 74 (L M. MD . ., ).

3 Eric Lane & Michael Oreskes, he Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved Our Country and

Why It Can Again (7).

4 Michael X. Delli Carpini & Scott Keeter, What Americans Know About Politics and Why It Matters

(1997).

5 K . K ., National Conference of State Legislators, Citizenship: A Challenge for All Genera-

tions (3).

6 Id.

7 Public Agenda for the National Constitution Center, Knowing It By Heart 4 ().

8 A L A R. W, National Assessment of Educational Progress, he Nations ReportCard: Civics 200 (7), available at://..///6/7476..

9 A N Y S. Michael P. McDonald, United States Election Proect,

200 General Election unout Rates (200), ://../_1G..

1 Id.

11 Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning

and Engagement, he Civic Mission of Schools (3) [H Civic Mission].

1 D B, Te Government War, N.Y. imes, A. 3 1, A7.

13 D C W, Souter Decries Lack o Civics Knowledge, Plans to Do Something About It, ABAJournal.com,

M 1, 9, ://.j.//_________-__/.

14 Sean Wilentz, he Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln xx (5).

15 L S P T L. P, What the American Founders Have to each Us About Schooling or

Democratic Citizenship, in Rediscovering the Democratic Purposes of Education 6-7 (L M. M-

D . ., ).

16 Gordon S. Wood, Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 469 (9).

17 Bj R, A Plan or the Establishment o Public Schools and the Difusion o Knowledge in Pennsylvania (1786),

in American Political Writing During the Founding Era, 0-0 676 (C S. H D

S. L ., 1983).

18 L D D. E R J. B (F. 1, 1959), in he Papers of Dwight David Eisen-

hower, (L G D E . 1996), available at://../-

-/-//151..

19 G W. B, F I A (J. , 1).

PSRAI -q ,

U S . PSRAI P R C, H J. K F


27/40


F, A P P C, C F, J S. J L. K

F, N , NBC N, W B.

1 I ,

.

B 1 . W .

3 I , N Y, .

4 Lane & Oreskes, supra 3, 4.

5 he Federalist No. 51 (J M).

6 L G W J J (A. 15, 1786).

7 L J M T J (A. , 1798), . , Letters and Other Writings of James

Madison: 1794-1815, 131 (P: J.B. L C., 1865).

8 Civic Mission, supra 11, 11.9 Making Good Citizens: Education and Civil Society (D R J P. V ., 1).

3 P P, supra 15,3 (q N W, On the Education o the Youth in America).

31 Amy Gutmann, Democratic Education 87 (1999).

3 U N.Y. Const. . V, 4, N Y R S U-

N Y D E. T R

B R, 17 S L 5 : 1

S 13 j 4 . N.Y. Educ. Law 11, . T R x-

, . N.Y.

Educ. Law 7. T C E .

N.Y. Educ. Law 1 T D . N.Y. Educ. Law 1.

33 N.Y. Educ. Law 81.

34 Id.

35 Id.

36 N.Y. State Dept of Educ., Social Studies Overview, ://.1..////.

( F. 16, 11).

37 N.Y. State Dept of Educ., Learning Standards of New York State, Social Studies, ://.1..

//. ( M. 1, 11).

38 Civic Mission, supra 11, 14-15.

39 D M. H, Most City Eighth Graders Miss State Norm in Social Studies, N.Y. imes, M 1, 5, ://

q..//.?=9A1E3D713F933A5756CA9639C8B63.

4 Id.


28/40


41 Id.

4 A S, New York Cancels History, Huffington Post, J 3, 1, ://../-

/---__6665..

43 Civic Mission, supra 11, 13.

44 M W, ea Partys Love or Constitution May Kill It, Bloomberg.com, D. 15, 1, ://..//1-1-16/-----------..

45 A Patrick J. McGuinn, No Child Left Behind and the ransformation of Federal Education

Policy, 1965-5 9 (6).

46 Id. 43.

47 Michael J. Sandel, Democracys Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy 351 (1996).


29/40


aPPenDIX

cIVIc lIteRacY In neW YoRK state sURVeY

Questions and Topline Results

N I: 1,1 N Y S

M E: P 4

D : J 1 J 8, 1

L : E

: L C

Notes about opline:

Because percentages are rounded they may not total 100%.

An asterisk indicates a value o less than 1%.

ldi Ir:

H, _________________ I P S R. W

N Y S . M I YOUNGES

[RANDOMIZE: (MALE)/(FEMALE)], 18 , ? [IF NO MALE/FEMALE, ASK: M I

YOUNGES (FEMALE/MALE), 18 , ?] (R

.)

c Ph Ir:

H, I ______ P S R. W N YS. I I . T . [IF R SAYS DRIVING/UNABLE O AKE CALL:

T . W ]

Cell Phone Age Screening Interview:

S1 A 18 , OR 18 ?

W . I q

, I . T q

ldi d c srig Irviw:

S2 A NOW N Y S, ?

RZIPCODE W ? [IF NECESSARY: T q

. Y .]


30/40


Q1 A , N Y S ?

CURRENT

%

May 2010

%

19 S 1

7 D 686 (DO NO READ) N 6

(DO NO READ) D 3

1 (DO NO READ) R 1

Q2 W , , j N Y S

?

Q3 W N Y S, N Y S ?

CURRENT

%76 S N Y S

S N Y S

S

(DO NO READ) D

* (DO NO READ) R

Now I am going to ask you a series o questions about democracy and American government. I you dont happen to know the answer to a question, just

tell me and I will move on.

Q4 H U.S. C , , ?

CURRENT

%

16 V

6 S

17 N

4 N

* (DO NO READ) D

* (DO NO READ) R

Q5 D U S? [DO NO READ CHOICES]

CURRENT

%

National

Trend

May 1991

%

17 I G W () 31

8 E P U /

15 G 17

58 (DO NO READ) D 5

3 (DO NO READ) R --


31/40


Q6 T A ODAY, U.S. C

A , , ?

CURRENT

%

76 V 17 S

3 N

N

1 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R

Q7 H . F , x . T (/x)

[INSER IEM; RANDOMIZE]. [READ FOR FIRS IEM, HEN AS NECESSARY: D

, , ?]

COMP.

AGREE

MOSTLY

AGREE

MOSTLY

DIS-

AGREE

COMP.

DIS-

AGREE

(VOL.)

BOTH/

OTHER DK REF

% % % % % % %

. , A

q

U.S. C.

34 5 9 3 * 1 *

. T U.S. C

.

1 31 6 7 * 1

Q8 W U.S. C 1787, . D [INSER IEM;

RANDOMIZE] C , ?

YES, A

GOAL

NO, NOT

A GOAL

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. C 3 47 1

. I 13 35 3 3 1

. M C 31 46 1

. D

17 5 31


32/40


Q9 T C .

A I , F

C. [INSER IEM; RANDOMIZE]. D WAS F C

NO ? [I , : T F U.S. C.]

YES, A

BELIEF

NO, NOT

BELIEF

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. P

4 46 1 *

. I ,

.

43 48 9 1

. P . 51 41 7 1

Q10 U , U.S. C . D

C [READ AND RANDOMIZE 1-]?

CURRENT%

53 SMALL

5 j EASILY

5 (DO NO READ) B

5 (DO NO READ) N

1 (DO NO READ) D

(DO NO READ) R

Q11 T 1 C B R. I , B

R ? I [READ AND RANDOMIZE 1-3]?

CURRENT

%

68 P x,

16 L

9 R x

(DO NO READ) A / /N

5 (DO NO READ) D

* (DO NO READ) R

Q12 W U.S. C 1787, A 1

A ?

CURRENT

%

4 A A

84 S

11 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R


33/40


Q13 F A , WERE

C , NO ? W [INSER IEMS IN

ORDER]? [READ FOR FIRS IEM, HEN AS NECESSARY: W [INSER IEM] ,

?]

Based on those who say some groups of Americans were not eligible to vote in 1787 (n=888)

YES,

ELIGIBLE

NO, NOT

ELIGIBLE

SOME

ELIGIBLE,

SOME NOT

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. W 73 1 5

. A-A 9 7 1 *

. W 7 9 1

. W 97 1 *

Now on a diferent subject

Q14 P C x, j . H

. I [INSER IEM; RANDOMIZE] A ?

YES,

REASON

NO, NOT A

REASON

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. E 84 9 7 1

. Rq

66 19 14 1

. P R P D

P

54 34 11 1

Now lets talk about some things that are going on today.

Q15 D N Y U.S. S? [I , : W

?]

CURRENT

%

4 C S/C S/ K G

11 G

46 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R


34/40


Q16 D S U.S. H R? I [READ AND RANDOMIZE 1-4]

CURRENT

%

7 N P ()

6 C R3 B Bx

3 J B

18 (DO NO READ) D

* (DO NO READ) R

Q17 W ? [PRECODED OPEN-END; DO NO READ CHOICES]

CURRENT

%

NATIONAL

TREND

MAY 2005

3 H ,

6 Ex S 15

6 A (-)

3 A

1 S S (-) 3

8 O (SPECIFY) 11

43 (DO NO READ) D 46

1 (DO NO READ) R --

RanDoMIZe Q18-Q20

Q18 W x ? [DO NO READ CHOICES]

CURRENT

%

66 T P/O

5 G

9 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R

Q19 W U.S. ? [DO NO READ CHOICES]

CURRENT

%

61 C/S H R/T

15 G

4 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R


35/40


Q20 W ? [DO NO READ CHOICES]

CURRENT

%

55 T /T U.S. S C/T j

17 G 8 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R

Q21 T C U.S. C . F , C

C ? [INSER; RANDOMIZE] C C ?

YES,

POWER OF

CONGRESS

NO, NOT A

POWER OF

CONGRESS

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. O 59 9 1 *

. C 48 3 *

. E x 51 35 14 *

Q22 T P U S x C. F ,

P ? [INSER; RANDOMIZE] P, ?

YES,

POWER OFPRESIDENT

NO, NOT A

POWER OFPRESIDENT

DONTKNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. N j 85 1 3

. Ex 61 33 6 *. D 6 36 3 *

On another topic

Q3 N I . P , x .

[READ AND RANDOMIZE 1-]

CURRENT

%

65 I .

9 E .

3 (DO NO READ) B/N

3 (DO NO READ) D

* (DO NO READ) R


36/40


Q24 N I . A, , x

. [READ AND RANDOMIZE 1-]

CURRENT

%

5 S .

39 S .

4 (DO NO READ) B/N

5 (DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R

Q25 W WHY A . A I ,

j , A OVER HE YEARS. [INSER IEM;

RANDOMIZE]D j , A ?

MAJOR

REASON

MINOR

REASON

NOT A

REASON

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % % %

. A

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

7

78

16

15

1

4

3

3

*

--

. T

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

76

81

14

11

6

4

4

4

1

--

. T

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

74

71

16

6

6

3

3

1

--

. J-C

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

35

41

8

8

3

6

11

1

--

. G

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

19

5

34

3

44

43

1

--

. G

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

44

65

19

15

33

16

3

4

1

--

. T -

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

5

49

9

3

15

13

3

6

1

--

. F

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

86

84

7

11

5

3

*

--

. O C

Current:

NAIONAL May 1999:

86

85

1

1

3

4

1

1

*

--

j. A

Current: 8 1 4 1 1


37/40


Q26 T , G D W W . I [INSER IEMS;

RANDOMIZE] ?

YES, A

REASON

NO, NOT A

REASON

DONT

KNOW REFUSED

% % % %

. T

66 8 5 1

. E 59 35 5 1

. T 7 4 5 *

Finally, just a ew questions or statistical purposes only.

SEX R (DO NO READ)

CURRENT

%

44 M56 F

AGE W ?

CURRENT

%

16 18-9

37 3-49

6 5-64

1 65

* D 1 R

EDUC W ? (DO NO READ CAEGORIES)

CURRENT

%

N, 1-8

8 H ( 9-11)

4 H ( 1 GED )

, AFER 31 S , - ( )

18 C (B.S., B.A. - )

16 P-

* D

* R

PARY I ODAY, R, D, I?


38/40


CURRENT

%

3 R

39 D

31 I

3 (DO NO READ) N

1 (DO NO READ) O

(DO NO READ) D

1 (DO NO READ) R

PARYLN A , R P D P?

CURRENT

%

36 R/L R

5 D/L D

1 N /O/R

HISP A , , H L , Mx, P R, C, S ?

RACE W ? A , , A, ?

CURRENT

%

7 W, -H

1 B, -H

11 H

5 O/Mx , -H

3 U

INCOME L , 9 OAL , BEFORE x? J I

. [READ]

CURRENT

%

13 L $,

16 $35,

14 35 $5,

15 5 $75,

13 75 $1,11 1 $15,

6 $15,

4 (DO NO READ) D

8 (DO NO READ) R

HANK RESPONDEN: Tat completes the interview. Tank you very much or your time and cooperation. Have a nice day/evening.


39/40

new & forthcoming brennan center publications

Filibuster Abuse

M M, F S L

Domestic Intelligence: New Powers, New Risks

E B

A Citizens Guide to Redistricting, 2010 Edition

J L, F E W

Renewing Democracy AterC U

S L M W

Small Donor Public Funding: Te NYC Experience

S L, A M

Voting System Failures: A Database Solution

L N

New Politics o Judicial Elections 2000-2009

J S, A S, J B

Voter Registration in a Digital Age

C P, E W W

Criminal Justice Debt: A Barrier to Reentry

A B, M N, R D

Buying Justice: Te Impact oC U on Judicial Elections

A S

Rethinking Radicalization

F P

Corporate Campaign Spending: Giving Shareholders a Voice

C -S

Foreclosures: A Crisis in Legal Representation

M C M B

Racial Disparities in Federal Prosecutions

B C J N I L Eq

F , ...


40/40

at New York University School o Law

Documents

A Report Card on New York's Civic Literacy