Deliberative Polling^®: By the People

By the People: America in the World, an initiative of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, aims to energize and enhance the national conversation on America's role in the world.

Deliberative Polling^® of the citizens of the United States has been a vital part of this initiative.

Dialogues in Democracy: "Citizenship in 21st Century America"

By the People—through its local public television and community organization partners-- hosted Citizen Deliberations in 11 communities around the country focused on the rights and responsibilities of citizens, as they relate to issues of local importance. The local deliberations were accompanied by a national Online Deliberative Poll exploring 21st century citizenship in America. By the People is partnering with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation on the Dialogues in Democracy project.

• Online Deliberative Polling^®: By the People: "Citizenship in 21st Century America"
  Meeting excerpts, expert Q&A, text discussion and briefing documents are available online.
• Results of a National Online Dialogue: Rethinking the Role of Citizens in our Democracy
• Excerpt of national broadcast hosted by Jim Lehrer (2m 02s)
• Video presentation of results by Professor James S. Fishkin at Williamsburg By the People meeting. (38m 45s)

Health Care and Education

• Results of National Deliberative Poll^® on Health Care and Education A nationally representative sample discussed the issues online using voice chat software designed to facilitate group discussion. View the significant changes.
• Citizens Speak Out on Health Care, Education More than 1,000 citizens outlined their priorities at discussions in fifteen cities around the country during Deliberation Week.
• National Deliberative Poll^® Reveals Citizens' Informed Views on Health Care, Education Participants move toward local control, parenetal involvement as key factors in improving schools. Responsents cite number of uninsured Americans as health care system's biggest problem.
• Excerpt of Online Deliberation

Foreign Policy and the 2004 Presidential Election

• Online "Deliberative Poll" Gives Picture of Informed Public Opinion in Election In a unique national experiment, a scientific sample of voters nationwide participated in weekly small group discussions to become more informed about the issues in the Presidential election.
• PBS Deliberation Day On October 16, just weeks before the national election, nearly 2000 Americans in communities around the country from Seattle to Pittsburgh and Cleveland to Houston, will join together in a common deliberation about what's at stake for the nation as they approach the polls.
• PBS Deliberation Day Backgrounder This backgrounder was prepared for the participants in Deliberation Day.
• "Deliberative Poll" Shows Americans' Views on Iraq, Trade
  Participants expressed their views in a unique experiment in civic dialogue that took place in 10 American communities.
• Informed Public Opinion About Foreign Policy: The Uses of Deliberative Polling, Henry E. Brady, James S. Fishkin, Robert C. Luskin
• First Online Deliberative Poll Reveals Informed Opinions on World Problems, Press Release

Vote 2004

Vote 2004: Presidential Candidates in Their Own Words

This presentation covers the credentials and policy positions of George W. Bush and John Kerry, the Republican and Democratic candidates for president. Vote 2004 has been developed jointly by the Center for Deliberative Democracy and the Political Communication Laboratory at Stanford University, and by By the People. The policy issues highlighted include the economy, energy, healthcare, homeland security, and Iraq. The primary source material consists of excerpts from candidates' issue platforms and speeches. Multimedia content is taken from coverage of speeches and other campaign events. A selection of the candidates' political advertisements is also provided.