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| | Many students emphasized the need to be aware of what is going on with politics. But "participation" is far more than become knowledgeable and aware. It also requires informing others, volunteering time, and "getting the word out." It involves correcting misinformation and countering the deceit used by bad candidates. It entails being proactive, just as exercise, a good diet, and going church consist of doing something rather than doing nothing. | | Many students emphasized the need to be aware of what is going on with politics. But "participation" is far more than become knowledgeable and aware. It also requires informing others, volunteering time, and "getting the word out." It involves correcting misinformation and countering the deceit used by bad candidates. It entails being proactive, just as exercise, a good diet, and going church consist of doing something rather than doing nothing. |
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| − | === "4. If a police officer pulls over a car on the New Jersey Turnpike ...." === | + | === "5. If a police officer pulls over a car on the New Jersey Turnpike ...." === |
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| | Police officers on the NJ Turnpike work for the state government, but most police officers work for local government (e.g., Newark, or Bedminister Township). No police officers work for the federal government. There are really three levels of government: federal, state and local, although often the "state and local" levels are grouped together. | | Police officers on the NJ Turnpike work for the state government, but most police officers work for local government (e.g., Newark, or Bedminister Township). No police officers work for the federal government. There are really three levels of government: federal, state and local, although often the "state and local" levels are grouped together. |
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| − | === "4. Explain what gerrymandering is." === | + | === "7. Explain what gerrymandering is." === |
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| | Very few students earned full credit on this question. Gerrymandering is difficult to understand and explain. The key point is that most people vote Democratic or Republican in every election, and politicians know who those people (neighborhoods) are. State legislatures, not governors or Congress, redraw state and congressional legislative districts every ten years based on the Census, and by grouping certain neighborhoods into different districts this "gerrymandering" can increase the number of districts controlled by one side or the other, by giving that side (for example) a 60% majority in numerous districts. | | Very few students earned full credit on this question. Gerrymandering is difficult to understand and explain. The key point is that most people vote Democratic or Republican in every election, and politicians know who those people (neighborhoods) are. State legislatures, not governors or Congress, redraw state and congressional legislative districts every ten years based on the Census, and by grouping certain neighborhoods into different districts this "gerrymandering" can increase the number of districts controlled by one side or the other, by giving that side (for example) a 60% majority in numerous districts. |
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| | === 8. Question concerning sources of bias in polling === | | === 8. Question concerning sources of bias in polling === |
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| − | The main sources of bias in polling are: | + | The main sources of bias in polling, leading to varying results, are: |
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| | *how the questions are asked (their phrasing, their order) | | *how the questions are asked (their phrasing, their order) |