POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS

For this project, you are to select an interviewee(s) to view American politics through. Your interviewee(s) may be unrelated to you but must be old enough to have had an opportunity to vote in three presidential elections (26 years old at least). You are to interview this person(s) to find out everything you can about this person(s) politically – about what the act of voting means to them, how it fits into their lives, how and where they obtain their information, and what politics itself means to them. (Each visit will have a list ofmandatory questions you will be required to ask.You are to ask at least five (5) of these mandatory questions per visit) You are to visit and talk with this interviewee(s) and reflect on the political state of the world, country, state, county and city in the light of what you learn and hear in class. Your conversation should be at least 30 minutes in length and your written summary should be at least a page followed by a response paragraph to the conversation. (Your written summary can either be a question/answer summary or a paragraph written summary of the conversation.) Please give the date and either the start and end time of your conversation or the total time of the conversation todocument the 30 minutes.

The class will discuss these projects and hopefully pose questions to ask at your next political conversation visit and provide suggestions to improve your project. Your interviewee(s) is to remain anonymous.

  • Political conversation #1 – (Why study civics?) –

Mandatory questions –

  1. How would you define or describe term civics or the term politics?
  2. Why do you think one should study civics/politics?
  3. Can you think of a quote that best answers the question – Why should someone study civics/politics?
  4. Complete the following sentence – Government in the United States is …. Explain.
  5. What can you tell me about our Constitution?
  6. What can you tell me about the naturalization process – the method of a non-citizen becoming a U.S. citizen?
  7. What do the terms ‘democracy’ and ‘republic’ mean to you? Are they two different terms or are they interchangeable in your opinion?
  8. How important is voting? What would you say to a friend if they asked you if they should vote in the upcoming election?
  9. What current events are you aware of at this time?
  10. What song/poem/piece of art work reminds you of politics?
  • political conversation #2– (principles of our government) –

Mandatory questions –

  1. What do you think our basic principlesare when it comes to our government?
  2. What do the following concepts mean to you, if anything, - popular sovereignty, and limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review and/or federalism?
  3. Would you consider individual freedom, justice, economic opportunity, equality and civic engagement as important ingredients to our democracy? If so, is anyone ingredient more important than any other? Which one(s)? Why?
  4. What do you believe is the single most important freedom that citizens enjoy?
  5. Can you name the five specific freedoms in the First Amendment?
  6. Do you believe that the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees?
  7. Do you think that musicians should be allowed to sing potentially offensive songs?
  8. Do you believe that high school students should be able to exercise their First Amendment rights just as adults do?
  9. What comes to mind when you think of the U.S. Constitution? Do you believe that the U.S. Constitution established a Christian nation?
  10. Do you believe that the freedom to worship applies to all groups regardless of how extreme or on-the-fringe their views?
  • political conversation #3 – (political participation) –

Mandatory questions –

  1. What are some ways that a person can participate in our political system? Which ways have you participated in our political process?
  2. What is the first political event you can remember? Assuming this event happened when you where a minor, how did the adults in your household react?
  3. Do you talk about politics and public policies with your family? Friends? Others? How often?
  4. Are you or any other members of your family politically active?
  5. To which, if any, political party do you belong? Why? What about other family members?
  6. What suggestions would you pass on to your children when it comes to selecting a political party? Why?
  7. What impact has television, newspapers, social media, and other media had on your political views?
  8. How would you describe your feelings about politics today? Why?
  9. How often do you vote? How important is it for everyone to vote?
  10. What does the term ‘interest group’ mean to you?
  11. Do you support Oregon’s vote-by-mail electoral process? Should voters be required to vote in person, i.e. walk-in electoral process? Do you see voter fraud as a problem?
  • political conversation #4 – (state & local government) –

Mandatory questions –

  1. What can you tell me about your state government? Our Governor? Other state-wide state officials,i.e. Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor and Industries?
  2. What can you tell me about yourState Senator Betsy Johnson?
  3. What can you tell me about your State Representative Brad Witt?
  4. At this time do your support or oppose the legalization of marijuana? Explain.
  5. At this time do your support or oppose legislation that would mandate labeling of certain foodstuffs that contain genetically modified organisms?
  6. What can you tell me about Columbia County government?
  7. What can you tell me about the City of Scappoose government?
  8. What can you tell me about Scappoose School Board?
  9. What revenue sources do local governments use to fund themselves? Do you feel that these sources are taxed fairly?
  10. Have you ever attended a local government meeting? If so, which one(s) and explain a little about the meeting and why you attended? If no, why?
  • political conversation #5 – (Electoral Reform) –

Mandatory questions – (There are no mandatory questions per se; you need to ask at least five (5) questions concerning your group’s electoral reform.)