SurveyInput5

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Definitions: Direct democracy: people voting directly on issues rather than through respresentatives. Initiative: a legislative measure proposed by the citizens Referendum: a vote for the public to approve or reject a law voted on by the legislature. Recall: a vote to remove or retain an elected official after a filing a petition. Petition: A collection of a designated percentage of signatures of voters to begin the process for an initiative, a referendum, or a recall. ___________________________________________________ SURVEY Respond to the following items by marking the radio buttons below according to your opinion or answer then submit your response by pressing the "send" button at the bottom of this survey: 1. I get most of my political information from: newspapers_____ other people______ radio_______ television_______ Internet_______ books 2. Direct democracy has been practiced in other countries and institutions and has been effective. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 3. The educational system should participate in the implementation of a direct democracy utilizing Internet and computer technology. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 4. Direct democracy should be introduced and taught in Social Studies and Political Science courses. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 5. The Constitution should be amended creating a direct democracy system. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 6. The Internet is a reliable method of voting. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 7. The voters have complete privacy and security when voting by the Internet. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 8. The public can be adequately informed of issues to be voted on. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 9. The voters could easily register their votes via the Internet or computer. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 10. The public should be made aware of the security issues for using the Internet for voting in a direct democracy. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 11. Internet voting can be as safe and effective as online banking transactions. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 12. The public should be made aware of the roles and duties of citizens in a democracy. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 13. The public should be made aware of the philosophy and history of democracy. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 14. We don't need to change anything, our government is a democracy now. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 15. Direct Democracy or people voting directly on legislative issues is a good idea. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 16. Adequate technology exists today for direct democracy. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 17. Education, information, and training can be given to qualified citizens for them to vote as Legislators. agree_____ somewhat agree____-_ middle range_____ somewhat disagree__-___ disagree_____ don't know 18. After its inception, interest in direct democracy would be maintained by the public. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 19. Eventually a new branch of Congress could be formed by the voting citizens. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 20. Before it is established as a legitimate branch of government, the people's voting branch of Congress could be developed as a national poll in order to collect public opinion. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 21. Citizens and students should study for and take examinations in order to receive certification in order to qualify as a voting member of a legislative branch in a direct democracy. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 22. Public schools should provide education and training for citizens to function as voting members of a direct democracy system of government. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 23. Voters are generally well informed about issues. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 24. Initiative and referendum items on a ballot are sometimes so complicated that the average voter can not understand them. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 25. Citizens should have a direct say in how they are governed. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 26. The public should trust public officials to make laws. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 27. The voters' pamphlets are helpful in informing the public about issues. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 28. The majority of voters would vote for minorities' rights. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 29. The U.S. Constitution should allow the recall of federal officials. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 30. U.S. citizens should be allowed, on the national level, to gather petitions to place an initiative on a ballot and if the measure passes it should become law. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 31. I would favor placing an item on the ballot if a petition is gathered of 3% of the voters of the most recent presidential election. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 32. The U.S. should have a national advisory referendum which would allow the voters to vote on proposed laws every two years and the results of the vote would be non-binding. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 33. Citizens should be able to vote directly on issues. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 34. If people could vote on issues then they would become interested in politics and would participate in government. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 35. In a direct democracy many people would not be able to cast an informed ballot. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 36. In a direct democracy special interests would gain power by spending money to promote their cause. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 37. There should be a limit to the number of initiatives on a ballot. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 38. Public officials know more about an issue and should be trusted to make the right decisions. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 39. Politicians should be carefully watched in case they misuse their power and go against the will of the people. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 40. When making laws, government should pay attention to mostly experts. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 41. When making laws, government should pay attention to mostly opinions of ordinary people. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know 42. In government people with more intelligence and character should have greater influence than other people. agree_____ somewhat agree_____ middle range_____ somewhat disagree_____ disagree_____ don't know ___________________________________________________ Optional open-ended questions (you can type your responses inside the boxes): The below questions are open-ended questions and can be answered with essay type answers -- you can answer as many as you would like: 43. How has direct democracy been practiced in other countries and institutions and how effective has it been? 44. How can the educational system participate in the implementation of a direct democracy utilizing Internet and computer technology? 45. How can direct democracy be introduced and taught in Social Studies and Political Science courses? 46. How can a constitutional amendment be proposed? 47. How can the reliability of Internet voting be assessed? 48. How can the privacy and security of Internet voters be assured? 49. How can the public be informed of issues to be voted on? 50. How can the voters register their votes via the Internet or computer? 51. How can the public be made aware of the safety and limitations of direct democracy? 52. How can the public be made aware of the roles and duties of citizens in a democracy? 53. How can the public be made aware of the philosophy and history of democracy? 54. How can the concept of direct democracy be introduced and the procedures for its implementation and utilization be taught in Social Studies and Political Science courses? 55. Do you think the United States, or your country, is a democracy now? Why or why not? 56. Do you think Direct Democracy or people voting directly on legislative issues is a good idea? Why or why not? 57. Do you think adequate technology exists today for direct democracy? Why or why not? 58. Do you think adequate education, information, and training can be given to citizens for them to vote as legislators? Why or why not? 59. Do you think interest for direct democracy would be maintained by the public? Why or why not? 60. Do you think that eventually a new branch of the Legislature (or Congress) could be formed by the voting citizens? Why or why not? 61. Do you think the people's voting branch of the Legislature (or Congress) could be used first as an opinion collection device? Why or why not? 62. Do you think citizens and students should study for and take examinations in order to receive certification in order to qualify as a voting member of a legislature in a direct democracy? Why or why not? 63. Should the public schools provide education and training for citizens to function as voting members of a direct democracy system of government? Why or why not? 64. What other comments would you like to make about the concept of direct democracy?