Questionnaire for Civil Beat Poll conducted on Dec. 4 and 5, 2011.

1. Honolulu Civil Beat Poll Questionnaire - December 2011
INTRO: Aloha, this is Kim, calling from Honolulu Civil Beat, with a quick five-minute survey
about an important issue facing Americans today. We want to know if you think that members of
Congress represent voters’ interests. Your opinion counts, so please participate.
QShouldRepresent. First, in general, who do you think members of Congress should work
hardest to represent? Some say congress has an obligation to protect the poor, because they have
the most need. Others say the congress should work hardest for the middle class, because they're
the backbone of our country. Still others say congress should promote the interests of wealthy
people, because they contribute the most to the economy. Finally, some say congress should put
in equal effort to represent all citizens, regardless of their position in society, because that's what
is most fair. What do you think?
If you think members of Congress should work hardest to represent the poor, press 4. If you
think members of Congress should work hardest for the middle class, press 5. If you think
members of Congress should work hardest for the wealthy, press 6. Or, if you think Congress
should focus on all citizens equally, press 7. If you're not sure, press 9.
a. The poor 4
b. The middle class 5
c. The wealthy 6
d. All citizens 7
z. Not sure 9
QDoRepresent. Thank you. Now we'd like to know whose interests you think members of
Congress actually work hardest to represent.
If you think members of Congress mostly represent the interests of the poor, press 4. If you think
Congress mostly represents the interests of the middle class, press 5. If you think Congress
mostly represents the interests of the wealthy, press 6. Or, if you think Congress generally
represents the interests of all citizens equally, press 7. If you're not sure, press 9.
a. The poor 4
b. The middle class 5
c. The wealthy 6
d. All citizens 7
z. Not sure 9

2. QElectionInfluence1. Thank you. Now we'd like to know who you think has the most influence
over who is elected to Congress. Would you say that citizens who cast their votes on Election
Day have the most influence over who gets elected? Or would you say that large campaign
donations made by corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals have more influence than
the voting public on determining who is elected to Congress?
If you think that the voters have the most influence on Congressional elections, press 4. Or, if
think that wealthy donors have the most influence on Congressional elections, press 5. If you're
not sure, press 9.
a. Voters 4
b. Donors 5
z. Not sure 9
QElectionInfluence2 And do you think that every American should have the same power to
influence an election regardless of their income? Or do you think that it's OK for corporations,
labor unions and wealthy individuals to have more influence over the outcome of an election?
If you think every American should have the same power to influence an election regardless of
their income, press 4. If you that it's OK for corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals
to have more influence over the outcome of an election, press 5. If you're not sure, press 9.
a. Equal Influence 4
b. More Influence 5
z. Not sure 9
QRepresentInfluenceA. And who do you think has the most influence on the choices and
decisions that most members of Congress make? Do most members of Congress make more
choices and decisions in the interest of the voters who put them in office? Or do most members
of Congress make more choices and decisions in the interests of the people or organizations who
donated the most to their campaigns?
If you think that most members of Congress make more of their choices and decisions in the
interests of the voters who put them in office, press 4. If you think that most members of
Congress make more of their choices and decisions in the interest of the people or organizations
who donated the most to their campaigns, press 5. If you’re not sure, press 9.
a. Voters 4
b. Donors 5
z. Not Sure 9

3. QRepresentInfluenceB. And who do you think has the most influence on the choices and
decisions that the people who represent your state and district in Congress make? Do your
representatives in Congress make more choices and decisions in the interest of the local
constituents who live in your district? Or do your representatives in Congress make more choices
and decisions in the interests of big campaign donors regardless of whether they actually live in
your state or district?
If you think that your Congress people make more choices and decisions in the interests of local
constituents, press 4. If you think your Congress people make more choices and decisions in the
interests of big campaign donors, even if they don’t live in your state or district, press 5. If you’re
not sure, press 9.
a. Voters 4
b. Donors 5
z. Not Sure 9
QAmendment. Thank you. Now we'd like to ask you about a possible major change to our
political system. Some people believe that our government is too influenced by wealthy donors
and well-funded special interests. Last year, the Supreme Court decided in the “Citizens United”
case that large corporations, labor unions, and wealthy individuals have the right to contribute
unlimited amounts of money to support political causes. Because this was a Supreme Court
decision, the only way to make a change would be to pass a new Constitutional Amendment that
would place limits on political donations. However, many opponents of a Constitutional
Amendment to limit the influence of money in politics say that it would violate the most basic
right of Americans—freedom of speech—which is protected by the First Amendment.
America’s founders made it extremely difficult to pass Constitutional Amendments. They did this
to ensure that any fundamental changes to the country were considered very carefully and had
wide public support. For example, in our history, Constitutional Amendments have been passed
to give African Americans and women the right to vote. But other proposed Amendments, such
as one requiring the government to balance its budget, have not had wide enough support to pass.
What do you think? If a Constitutional Amendment were the only way to reduce the influence of
corporations, labor unions, and wealthy individuals on Congressional elections, would you
support it, even if it might place some limits on freedom of speech? If you would support a
Constitutional Amendment to limit political donations, press 4. If you would not support a
Constitutional Amendment to limit political donations, press 5. If you're not sure, press 9.
a. Yes 4
b. No 5
z. Not sure 9

4. DEMOGRAPHICS
SECTION INTRO: Finally, I have just a few questions about you so we can properly
understand your responses. All personal information will be kept strictly confidential.
D1. If you are a man, press 1; if you are a woman, press 2
a. Male 1
b. Female 2
D2. If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a Republican, press 2. If you are an Independent,
or identify with another party, press 3. If you’re not sure, press 9.
a. Democrat 1
b. Republican 2
c. Independent 3
z. Not sure 9
D3. If you are 18-34 years old, press 1. If you are 35-49, press 2. If you are 50-64, press 3. If you
are 65 or older, press 4.
a. 18-34 1
b. 35-49 2
c. 50-64 3
d. 65+ 4
D4. What best describes your education level? If you did not graduate from high school, press 1.
If you have a high school degree or equivalent, press 2. If you graduated from a four-year college
or equivalent, press 3. Or, if you have a graduate school degree, press 4.
a. No degree 1
b. HS Grad 2
c. College Grad 3
d. Graduate Degree 4
D5. And finally, what is your family’s current yearly household income? If it is any amount up
to $50,000 per year, press 1. If it is between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, press 2. If it is
between $100,000 and $250,000 per year, press 3. If it is between $250,000 and $500,000 per
year, press 4. If it is more than $500,000 per year, press 5.
a. $50,000 or less 1
b. $50,000-$100,000 2

5. c. $100,000-$250,000 3
d. $250,000-$500,000 4
e. $500,000+ 5
SIGN-OFF: Thank you for your participation. Have a great day!