A SURVEY OF STUDENTS POLITICAL ATTITUDES

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A SURVEY OF STUDENTS POLITICAL ATTITUDES

• INSTRUCTIONS For each item, indicate the
  response that most closely reflects your
  attitude.

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1. As part of its effort to combat terrorism, the
government should have the authority to
indefinitely detain persons it believes might
have information about terrorist activities, even
if the person himself or herself is not suspected
of engaging in terrorist activities. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion
Disagree Disagree Disagree 3
2 1 0
-1 -2 -3
3
2. Tax rates should be higher for wealthy
families than moderate income families while
rates for lower income families should be
lower. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
3 2 1
0 -1 -2
-3
4
3. A professor at a public college or university
who admits to being an Islamic fundamentalist
should be fired. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
5
4. The government ought to reduce the income
differences between the rich and the poor by
raising the taxes of wealthy families or by
giving income assistance to poor
families. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
3 2 1
0 -1 -2
-3
6
5. To better fight crime, requirements that law
enforcement agencies respect the rights of
criminal suspects should be eased. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree 3
2 1 0
-1 -2 -3
7
6. Graduated income tax brackets punish people
who work hard to earn higher incomes. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion
Disagree Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
8
7. An adult should be allowed to use pornography
as a form of entertainment. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
9
8. Because capital gains taxes taxes on profits
from stocks, etc. discourage investment, capital
gains tax rates should be lowered. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
10
9. Communities should have the power to regulate
the sale of rock and rap recordings which offend
community standards or morals. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree 3
2 1 0
-1 -2 -3
11
10. The government should provide tax breaks for
families with young children to subsidize day
care expenses. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree -3 -2
-1 0 1
2 3
12
11. The government should not interfere with a
womans access to abortion services. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion
Disagree Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
13
12. Government should guarantee access to health
care for Americans who cannot afford private
insurance or whose employers do not provide
health coverage. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
14
13. A person should be allowed to burn an
American flag as a form of political
speech. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
-3 -2 -1
0 1 2
3
15
14. Congress should enact regular increases in
the minimum wage. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
16
15. Non-sectarian or non-denominational prayer
should be instituted as daily practice in public
schools. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
3 2 1
0 -1 -2
-3
17
16. The government needs to enforce stricter laws
and regulations to protect environmental quality
even if it means higher costs for businesses and
consumers. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
3 2 1
0 -1 -2
-3
18
17. Parents should be allowed to educate their
children in their own homes. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
19
18. Poverty relief (welfare) programs promote
dependency among their recipients and should be
scaled back. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree -3 -2
-1 0 1
2 3
20
19. The death penalty is an appropriate sentence
for defendants convicted of murder. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree 3
2 1 0
-1 -2 -3
21
20. Government should provide subsidies to
students to increase their opportunities to
receive college educations. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree 3
2 1 0
-1 -2 -3
22
21. Prostitution is a victimless crime and should
be decriminalized. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree -3 -2
-1 0 1
2 3
23
22. Financing public schools by local property
taxes is inequitable the state should establish
a funding formula to redistribute funds from
wealthy to poorer districts. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree 3
2 1 0
-1 -2 -3
24
23. Penalties for illegal drug possession should
be strengthened. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
25
24. Government should have more authority to pass
laws that guarantee equality among races and
between sexes even if it means restricting the
ability of private businesses to hire whom they
want or the ability of private clubs to choose
whom they want to admit. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree 3 2
1 0
-1 -2 -3
26
25. A persons sexual orientation is his/her
personal business laws that discriminate against
homosexuals should be repealed. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
27
26. Universities and colleges should be allowed
to limit their athletic programs to mens
sports. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
-3 -2 -1
0 1 2
3
28
27. Communities should have the authority to
establish curfews for teens to combat juvenile
crime. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree Disagree
3 2 1
0 -1 -2
-3
29
28. Government-mandated affirmative action and
equal employment opportunity programs constitute
reverse discrimination and should be
discontinued. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree -3 -2
-1 0 1
2 3
30
29. The police should not be allowed to randomly
check motorists for DUI/DWI police should be
required to have probable cause. Adamantly
Strongly Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree
Agree Agree No opinion Disagree
Disagree Disagree -3
-2 -1 0
1 2 3
31
30. The government should provide low-interest
loans to encourage female or minority-owned
business enterprise. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
32
31. To reduce the number of handgun-related
crimes, handgun owners should be required to
register their weapons with the
government. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
33
32. The government should increase efforts to
enforce equal compensation laws relating to women
in the workplace. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
34
33. The government should pass laws limiting the
amount of violence that children are exposed to
in the entertainment media (television, movies,
video games, etc.). Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
35
34. American citizens should have the right to
make contributions to the political candidates
and political parties they support without
financial limitations imposed by the
government. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/ Strongly
Adamantly Agree Agree Agree
No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree -3 -2
-1 0 1
2 3
36
35. Public school children should be required to
recite the pledge of allegiance as part of the
daily school regimen. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree 3 2
1 0 -1
-2 -3
37
36. In order to permit the widest choices and
lowest prices for American consumers, the
government should pursue free trade policies with
other countries. Adamantly Strongly
Indifferent/
Strongly Adamantly Agree Agree
Agree No opinion Disagree Disagree
Disagree -3 -2
-1 0 1
2 3