NOTE TO STUDENTS:  This is a long article with more questions than usual.  It will take longer to complete, but reading the article and answering the questions will give you a feel for what issues are important to people around the country. 

1.  What is a ballot measure? (See "Background" below the questions for the answer.)

2.  In what states will voters decide on whether to add a traditional marriage amendment to their state constitution?

3.  In which state is the vote for a traditional marriage amendment the most significant?  Why?

4.  List the other issues described in the article that voters will decide on in ballot measures across the country next week.

5.  Which state has the highest number of ballot initiatives in November's election?

6.  What do polls show about voters' feelings about California's Prop 8 (to make marriage between one man and one woman only)?

7.  a) How are California's black and Latino populations expected to vote on the marriage amendment proposition?
b)  Why do you think these two groups hold this view?

8.  Arizona is the only state out of 30 to have rejected a marriage amendment (in 2006).  Why is the amendment expected to pass next week?

9.  a) What does professor Scott Adler think the motive is of the Right to Life group that put the constitutional amendment on the ballot that does not mention abortion but defines a person as a human from the point of conception?
b)  Do you agree with Mr. Adler?  Explain your answer.

10. a) What is affirmative-action?
b)  Which states banned affirmative-action in the late 1990's?
c)  Which states will have proposals to ban affirmative-action on their ballots next week?

11. a) Which state has already passed a ballot measure making doctor-assisted suicide legal?
b)  Which state has a proposal to make doctor-assisted suicide legal?
b)  In which states did voters reject initiatives to make doctor-assisted suicide legal?

12. Does your state have any initiatives or referendums on your ballot for this election?  If so, how would you vote?  Why?
(see link to iandrinstitute.org in "Background" below)