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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
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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 .
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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
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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
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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,
, ,
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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.
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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.
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new york civic literacy survey| 6
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.
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new york civic literacy survey| 8
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.
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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.
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new york civic literacy survey| 1
Whih i h frmr hpd h ciui?
Selt-Interest
O 4 N Y F
- .
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. U
F . A J M
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Government Interference
A , 43 , incorrectly F
. A
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42
43
51
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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.
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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 -
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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.
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new york civic literacy survey| 1
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-
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?
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
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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.
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new york civic literacy survey| 14
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?
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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.
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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.
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new york civic literacy survey| 16
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.
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IV. HoW Do We bUIlD cIVIc lIteRacY? scHools!
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.8 N W, A
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q B R3 -
.
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() , , ,
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q C ,
.35
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[T] , , ,
A . U-
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new york civic literacy survey| 18
q
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.36
A N Y ,
;
U.S. ; U.S. C;
A ;
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.37
B N Y .
A , q N Y G P.W ? I q ? O -
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A
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49 39 , . P x ,
,
.
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, x /
.38
A N C
L B , N Y. F N Y q
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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.
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A x ,
q, N C L B .41 P ,
1 B R -
q, , x, ,
.4
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. A CIRCLE
, ,
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. 43
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rg, d prpru. bu h id
d prpu hmv. thy mu
ugh d rd w wih h
gri.
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new york civic literacy survey|
T N Y A
A . B
, , , . I , N C L B
A , , N Y,
.
C , A
A . D Bj F q
, , A
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.
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R A,
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x 19
, x
. I ,
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19- .
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V. conclUsIons anD aDDItIonal RecoMMenDatIons
A, , . A ,
, . I A ,
, . B . T
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.
C q
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, ,
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.
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q , . W
A o all ages . R 7
. T x ,
.
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mk ivi dui wrk. W d ivi
dui h rh ur iiz,
v h wh my vr i
rm gi.
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new york civic literacy survey|
W G C ,
N Y. T G N Y x
q N Y A -
, , . P :
x
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R , ,
R - N Y
-
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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
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new york civic literacy survey| 4
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.
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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).
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new york civic literacy survey| 6
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 .]
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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 --
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new york civic literacy survey| 8
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
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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
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new york civic literacy survey| 3
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
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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
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new york civic literacy survey| 3
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
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33 | brennan center for justice
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
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new york civic literacy survey| 34
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?
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35 | brennan center for justice
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.
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