Questions

Recent questions

How should judges be selected?

Judicial selection is an important civic task that must balance the accountability and independence of the judiciary. In some jurisdictions, judges are appointed by elected officials. In others, they are elected by the public.

Should nations recognize a Palestinian State?

Palestine is a de jure sovereign state in Western Asia claiming the West Bank (bordering Israel and Jordan) and Gaza Strip (bordering Israel and Egypt), with Jerusalem as the designated capital. Palestine is recognized officially as the State of Palestine by the United Nations and other international entities, but not by a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Do you support Blue Lives Matter?

Blue Lives Matter is a countermovement in the United States advocating that those who are prosecuted and convicted of killing law enforcement officers should be sentenced under hate crime statutes. It was started in response to Black Lives Matter after the homicides of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn, New York.

Should the Pledge of Allegiance be recited in schools?

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of allegiance to the Flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America. Many children in the United States start every school day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Should the theory of evolution be taught in schools?

Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. The scientific theory of evolution by natural selection was first proposed by Charles Darwin in his book On The Origin of Species.

Should the government be allowed to mandate the wearing of masks during public health emergencies?

In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, many national governments have mandated the wearing of masks that cover the nose and mouth in public. Others have declined to do so.

How much of the world’s energy needs should be met by nuclear power?

Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. The vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium.

Do you support Black Lives Matter?

Black Lives Matter is an international human rights movement, originating from within the African-American community, which campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. BLM regularly holds protests speaking out against police brutality and police killings of black people, and broader issues such as racial profiling, and racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system.

Should sex work be illegal?

Sex work is the voluntary exchange of sexual services, performances, or products for compensation. It includes activities of direct physical contact between buyers and sellers as well as indirect sexual stimulation. Examples of sex work include prostitution, performing in adult films, and phone sex operation. Sex work does not include human trafficking, or non-consensual sex.

To what extent should society place restrictions on the ownership and use of guns by civilians?

Many societies place limits on the availability and operation of guns for people who are not in the armed services or the police. Measures can include outright prohibition of certain kinds of firearms, strict licensing and training, and storage of weapons only in specific locations. Some countries, like the United States, place relatively few restrictions on gun ownership.

What should be done with Confederate statues?

The Confederacy was an unrecognized republic that existed from 1861-1865 and waged war against the Union states during the American Civil War. Hundreds of statues of Confederate leaders and soldiers still stand today, primarily in states that joined the Confederacy.

Are charter schools a good idea?

A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. Charter schools are typically open to all students and do not charge tuition, but have fewer regulations regarding public accountability.

Should creationism be taught in schools?

Creationism is the religious belief that nature, and aspects such as the universe, Earth, life, and humans, originated with supernatural acts of divine creation