Perhaps two
issues are the minds of many of us associated
with the University, one close to home, and
the other of national and international concern.
The first issue is on hotly debated at the University,
the goal of building a now on-campus football
stadium. The second is related to the 2004 election,
partly because this is a presidential election
year and partly because of the primary of international
issues for which the presidential candidates
differ greatly.
Please provide us with your opinions on specific
questions related to these issues. At the end,
we will ask questions about your background
to help us understand how opinions vary based
on personal characteristics. Finally, there
is space for any comments you would like to
add about these or other issues.
A new Gopher stadium
at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
campus will contribute to the University's
tri-part mission of research, teaching,
and service.
A new football
stadium on campus will enhance the image
of the University of Minnesota.
Having a stadium
on the University of Minnesota's campus
will offer benefits to the university community
beyond housing football games.
Please respond to
the following questions about polls.
Election polls
accurately portray the nation's political
views.
Election polls
influence the outcomes of elections.
Polling data is
reliable.
A Quiz on the
Electoral College
In the United States
of America, the president and vice president are
not elected by the popular vote (individual votes),
but indirectly through the Electoral College. The
Electoral College is made up of individuals from
each state and Washington DC that are selected to
cast a vote on behalf of their state to elect the
president and vice president. When voters vote for
president, they are actually voting for the electors
pledged to their presidential candidate. On occasion,
however, electors defect, and do not follow the
wishes of the popular vote from their state and
cast their electoral vote for a different candidate.
Please respond to
each of these questions about the Electoral College.
If unsure, take your best guess.
The minimum number
of electors a state has is based on its
number of members in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A defecting Elector
has never decided a Presidential election
State law prohibits
Electors from casting a vote that is different
from the popular vote result.
The precise date
for Congress to open and count the sealed
Electoral College votes is mandated by the
12th Amendment of the Constitution.
Minnesota has 10
electoral votes.
The precise date
for Electors to cast their Electoral College
votes is set by Congress.
A presidential
candidate needs a plurality of the votes
cast (the largest number of votes) to win
the Electoral College.
There is a Constitutional
obligation for Electors to vote according
to the state popular vote.
If a President
fails to receive enough votes to win in
the Electoral College, a joint session of
Congress decides by a simple majority (50%
+ 1) of the individual members.
Defecting Electors
have been prosecuted and fined for failing
to vote according to the state popular vote.
Of all Minnnesota
Political Parties, I am most closely affiliated
with the following party.
Page 4 of 4
Information about
You
We
appreciate your responses to the previous questions.
To help us understand responses from various
communities and the issues related to different
communities, we would also appreciate some information
about you.
IF YOU
ARE A STUDENT, are you an undergraduate
or graduate/professional student?
Page 4 of 4
Information about You
We appreciate
your responses to the previous questions. To help us understand
responses from various communities and the issues related
to different communities, we would also appreciate some
information about you.