Political Awareness Questionnaire

Political Ideology is a concept that refers to the content of a person's political values and ideas. An ideology is a well-developed set of views that guides an individual's thinking on politics. A political ideology provides a worldview that, if well-developed, enables us to interpret and provide order to the world around us. By completing the following questionnaire you will be able to see where you fit in terms of the ideological framework that is discussed on pp. 119-123 in The Web of Democracy.

1) Public officials don't care much what people like me think.
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither agree nor disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
2) People like me don't have any say about what the government does.
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither agree nor disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
3) We should be more tolerant of people who choose to live according to their own moral standard, even if they are very different from our own.
    Agree strongly
    agree somewhat
    neither agree nor disagree
    disagree somewhat
    disagree strongly
4) We have gone too far in pushing equal rights in this country.
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither Agree nor Disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
5) We have gone too far in extending the rights of the individuals in this country.
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither agree nor disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
6) The world is always changing and we should adjust our view of moral behavior to those changes.
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither Agree nor Disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
7) This country would have fewer problems if there were more emphasis on traditional family ties
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither agree nor disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
8) It is always wrong for a married person to have sexual relations with someone other than their marriage partner.
    Agree Strongly
    Agree Somewhat
    Neither agree or disagree
    Disagree Somewhat
    Disagree Strongly
9) In the future, how willing should the U.S. be to give humanitarian aid like food and medicine to foreign countries even if they don't stand for the same things we do
    Extremely Willing
    Very Willing
    Somewhat Willing
    Not Very Willing
    Never Willing
10) Which of the following views comes closest to your opinion on the issue of school prayer? Just give me the number of your choice.
    1. By law, prayers should not be allowed in public schools.
    2. The law should allow public schools to schedule time when children can prayer silently if they want to.
    3. The law should allow public schools to schedule time when children as a group, can say a general prayer not tied to a particular religious faith
    4. By law, public schools should schedule a time when all children would say a chosen Christian prayer
11) Do you favor that choice STRONGLY or NOT STRONGLY?
    Favor Strongly
    Favor not strongly
12) Which of the following perspectives bests describes your view about the balance between business and environmental concerns?
    The environment needs to be protected at all cost.
    Environmental protection is important, but business needs also must be considered.
    Environmental protection is important, but it should not cost their jobs.
    The free market system will respond to an environmental problems without governmental regulation.
    The environment is important, but business concerns should be given a higher priority.
13) Which of the following public figures do you most admire?
    Ronald Reagan
    Ted Kennedy
    Ralph Nader
    Pat Buchanan
    Steve Forbes
    Bill Clinton
14) Which of the following best describes your view of how political decisions should be made?
    Political decisions must be made on the basis of unchanging moral standards.
    Political decisions should be made on principle, but the standards may, at times need to be flexible.
    Political decisions usually require compromise in order to achieve results.
15) Which position best reflects your view on censorship and pornography?
    Pornography is a crime against women and should be stopped at all cost.
    Government censorship should be avoided whenever possible>
    Individuals ought to be free to read or watch what they choose.
    Pornography is morally wrong and those consume it should be prosecuted.
16) Place yourself along the following scale.
    Women should be seen as equal to men in business, industry and government.



    A woman's place is in the home.
17) Place yourself along the following scale.
    The best way to insure peace is military strength.



    Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace
18) There has been some discussion about abortion during recent years. Which one of the following opinions best agrees with your view?
    By law, abortion should never be permitted.
    The law should permit abortion ONLY in case of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger.
    The law should permit abortion for reasons OTHER THAN rape, incest or danger to the woman's life, but only after the need for the abortion has been clearly established.
    By law, a woman should always been able to obtain an abortion as a matter of personal choice.
19) Recent events have raised issues regarding the balance that needs to be reached between the need to protect national security and the United States' traditional commitment to civil liberties. Which of the following statements best reflects your perspective on the question.
    Terrorism must be stopped regardless of the costs.
    Immigrants and foreign national should not have the same civil rights as U.S. citizens.
    Terrorism needs to be stopped, even if it means that some basic liberties will be restricted.
    Terrorism needs to be stopped, but not at the cost of losing basic liberties.
    Insuring civil rights should be our most important priority.

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