Presidential Survey Results

October,  2006

Here are the results from our survey on the Presidency.  My senior government class developed this 8 question survey about the Presidency.  “Hard copies” were circulated around campus and the community.  The survey was also posted online at Zoomerang.com.  We received 200 responses in all.

1. Do you feel a female candidate will ever be elected President of the United States?

 

                      YES    86.9%

                      NO      13.1%

 

2. Do you feel a minority candidate (African-American, Asian-American, Mexican-American, Native American etc...) will ever be elected President of the United States?

 

                      YES    86.4%          

                      NO      13.6%

 

3. Respond if you answered 'yes' to question 1 or 2. Which do you expect to be elected President first: a female candidate or a minority candidate?

 

                      Female Candidate              57.0%

                      Minority Candidate            43.0%

 

4. Respond if you answered 'yes' to question 1 or 2. When would you expect either a female or a minority candidate to be elected?

 

                      The next election                 0.6%

                      Within 10 years                 33.3%

                      Within 20 years                 58.0%

                      More than 20 years             8.0%

 

5. Should Presidential elections be decided based on the Electoral College vote, as it currently is, or on the popular vote?

          

                      Electoral College Vote        52.0%

                      Popular Vote                      48.0%

 

6. As required by the Constitution, the President must be a natural-born citizen of the United States. Since we are a nation of immigrants, should the Presidency be opened to naturalized citizens?

 

                      Yes, the Presidency should be opened to all

                                 Citizens, naturalized or natural-born.      19.6%

 

                      No, the Presidency should be reserved only

                                 For natural-born citizens.                        80.4%

 

7. Currently, there are no educational requirements for the Office of the President. Should the Constitution be amended to create educational requirements for candidates seeking the Presidency?

 

                      Yes, there should be educational requirements for Presidential candidates.       22.1%

 

                      No, there should not be educational requirementsf or Presidential candidates.  77.9%

 

8. As required by the Constitution, a candidate for President must be at least 35 years old. Should the age requirement be raised, lowered, or left the same?

 

                      Raised                     11.6%

                      Lowered                    3.0%

                      Left at 35                 85.4%