20 Questions

Questions to Ask a Politician

Strategic questions to ask politicians about their policies, positions, and vision, helping you understand their stance on important issues.

1

What's your position on the most pressing issue facing our community today?

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Why this works

Reveals their priorities while providing insight into what they consider the most important issue and their proposed solutions.

2

How do you plan to address the concerns of constituents who disagree with your policies?

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Why this works

Shows their approach to opposition while revealing their strategy for handling disagreement and building consensus.

3

What's your strategy for working across party lines to get things done?

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Why this works

Reveals their bipartisanship approach while providing insight into how they plan to collaborate with political opponents.

4

How do you handle the pressure and scrutiny that comes with public office?

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Why this works

Shows their resilience while revealing their approach to managing the stress and public attention of political life.

5

What's your approach to transparency and accountability in government?

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Why this works

Reveals their commitment to open government while providing insight into how they plan to ensure transparency and accountability.

6

How do you plan to engage with constituents and stay connected to the community?

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Why this works

Shows their constituent engagement strategy while revealing their approach to maintaining connection with the people they represent.

7

What's your position on campaign finance reform and money in politics?

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Why this works

Reveals their stance on political funding while providing insight into their views on the influence of money in politics.

8

How do you approach making decisions when there's no clear consensus?

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Why this works

Shows their decision-making process while revealing their approach to handling complex and divisive issues.

9

What's your strategy for addressing the needs of underserved communities?

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Why this works

Reveals their commitment to equity while providing insight into how they plan to address the needs of marginalized groups.

10

How do you plan to balance local needs with state and federal requirements?

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Why this works

Shows their understanding of government levels while revealing their approach to navigating different levels of government.

11

What's your approach to handling criticism and opposition from political opponents?

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Why this works

Reveals their conflict resolution skills while providing insight into how they handle political opposition and criticism.

12

How do you plan to ensure that your policies benefit all constituents, not just your supporters?

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Why this works

Shows their commitment to representation while revealing their approach to serving all constituents regardless of their political affiliation.

13

What's your strategy for addressing the concerns of young people and future generations?

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Why this works

Reveals their long-term thinking while providing insight into how they plan to address the needs of future generations.

14

How do you approach building coalitions and partnerships to achieve your goals?

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Why this works

Shows their collaboration skills while revealing their approach to building alliances and partnerships.

15

What's your position on term limits and political career length?

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Why this works

Reveals their views on political tenure while providing insight into their stance on political career limitations.

16

How do you plan to address the concerns of constituents who feel disconnected from government?

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Why this works

Shows their engagement strategy while revealing their approach to reconnecting disengaged constituents with government.

17

What's your approach to handling the media and public communication?

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Why this works

Reveals their communication strategy while providing insight into how they plan to communicate with the public and media.

18

How do you plan to ensure that your decisions are based on evidence and data?

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Why this works

Shows their commitment to evidence-based policy while revealing their approach to making data-driven decisions.

19

What's your strategy for addressing the concerns of constituents who feel left behind by economic changes?

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Why this works

Reveals their economic policy approach while providing insight into how they plan to address economic inequality and change.

20

How do you plan to ensure that your policies are sustainable and beneficial for future generations?

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Why this works

Shows their long-term thinking while revealing their approach to creating sustainable and forward-thinking policies.

Best Practices for Political Conversations

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Stay Informed and Prepared

Research the politician's background, positions, and recent statements to ask informed and relevant questions.

Ask Specific Questions About Policies

Focus on specific policies, positions, and plans rather than general questions about politics or government.

Be Respectful and Professional

Maintain a respectful tone and professional demeanor while asking challenging questions about their positions and policies.

Question Sequences

The Policy Focus

1
What's your position on the most pressing issue facing our community today?
2
How do you plan to address the concerns of constituents who disagree with your policies?
3
What's your strategy for working across party lines to get things done?
4
How do you plan to ensure that your policies benefit all constituents, not just your supporters?

The Engagement Focus

1
How do you plan to engage with constituents and stay connected to the community?
2
How do you plan to address the concerns of constituents who feel disconnected from government?
3
What's your approach to handling criticism and opposition from political opponents?
4
How do you plan to ensure that your decisions are based on evidence and data?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Focus Only on Controversial Issues

Ask about a range of issues and policies, not just the most controversial or divisive topics.

Avoid Personal Attacks

Focus on policies and positions rather than personal attacks or character assassination.

Don't Skip the Follow-up Questions

Ask follow-up questions to clarify their positions and understand the reasoning behind their policies.

Conversation Templates

The Policy Explorer

1
Step 1: Start with: "What's your position on the most pressing issue facing our community today?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "How do you plan to address the concerns of constituents who disagree with your policies?"
3
Step 3: Explore with: "What's your strategy for working across party lines to get things done?"

The Engagement Focus

1
Step 1: Begin with: "How do you plan to engage with constituents and stay connected to the community?"
2
Step 2: Probe with: "How do you plan to address the concerns of constituents who feel disconnected from government?"
3
Step 3: Clarify with: "What's your approach to handling criticism and opposition from political opponents?"

Further Reading

"The Art of Political Communication" by Kathleen Hall Jamieson
"Political Communication" by Brian McNair
"The Political Brain" by Drew Westen

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