>> MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM MASTER CODE

>> MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM MASTER CODE


*  indicates new or amended code in 2000
** indicates "other" codes



SOCIAL WELFARE PROBLEMS


     001. General reference to domestic issues; repairing/
          maintaining the nation's infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams, etc)

     005. POPULATION; any mention of population increase; reference to
          over-population/birth control

     006. DAY CARE; child care

     010. UNEMPLOYMENT; the number of people with jobs; unemployment
          rate/compensation; job retraining

     013. CREATE JOBS/RECRUIT INDUSTRY in specific area/region/ state

     020. EDUCATION; financial assistance for schools/colleges/
          students; quality of education/the learning
          environment/teaching

     030. AGED/ELDERLY; social security benefits; administration
          of social security; medical care for the aged; medicare
          benefits; insuring against catastrophic illness;
          prescription drug program for elderly

     035. Social Security won't be around in the future; paying into a system
          which won't benefit me/them

     040. HEALTH PROBLEMS/COST OF MEDICAL CARE; quality of medical care;
          medical research/training of doctors and other health personnel;
          hospitals; National Health insurance program

     045. Located after 330
     046. Located after 383

     048. Other specific references to health problems; AIDS

     050. HOUSING; providing housing for the poor/homeless; ability of young
          people to afford to buy homes/find homes to buy

     060. POVERTY; aid to the poor/underprivileged people; help for the
          (truly) needy; welfare programs (such as ADC); general reference to
          anti-poverty programs; hunger/help for hungry people in the U.S.

     090. SOCIAL WELFARE PROBLEMS; "welfare"--NFS

     091. For general or other social welfare programs; "we need to help
          people more"

     092. Against general or other social welfare programs; "too many give
          away programs for the people who don't deserve it"; for welfare
          reform

**   099.  Other specific mentions of social welfare problems


AGRICULTURE

     100. FARM ECONOMICS; payment for crops/price of feed/cost of farming

     103. SUBSIDIES/crop payments/government aid to farmers

     120. WORLD FOOD PROBLEMS; food shortages/starvation/famine 
          (not 406 or 407)


NATURAL RESOURCES


     150. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES; conservation,
          ecology; protecting the environment/endangered species

     151. Controlling/REGULATING GROWTH or land development; banning further
          growth/development in crowded or ecologically sensitive areas;
          preserving natural areas

     153. POLLUTION; clean air/water

     154. Disposal of RADIOACTIVE/TOXIC waste (dumps, landfills)

     160. DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES /ENERGY SOURCES; 
          harbors, dams, canals, irrigation, flood control, navigation,
          reclamation; location, mining, stock-piling of minerals; water
          power, atomic power; development of alternative sources of energy
          (includes mentions of solar or nuclear power)

**   199. Other specific mentions of agriculture or natural resources problems



LABOR PROBLEMS:  UNION-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS


     200. LABOR/UNION PROBLEMS; union practices; job security provided
          workers; job safety issues; working conditions

     220. Anti-union; unions too powerful

**   299. Other specific mention of labor or union-management problems

RACIAL PROBLEMS

     300. CIVIL RIGHTS/RACIAL PROBLEMS; programs to enable Blacks
          to gain social/economic/educational/political equality;
          relations between Blacks and whites

     302. PROTECTION (expansion) OF WHITE MAJORITY; maintenance of           
segregation; right to choose own neighborhood; right to
          discriminate in employment

     304. Discrimination against whites; preferred treatment given 
          to minorities

TECHNOLOGY

     310. Technology; mentions that are specific to technology;
          e.g., the Year 2000 computer (Y2K) problem

PUBLIC ORDER PROBLEMS

     320. NARCOTICS; availability of drugs; extent of drug/alcohol addiction
          in the U.S.; interdiction of drugs coming to the U.S. from foreign
          countries; alcohol or drug related crime; drug laws

     330. WOMEN'S RIGHTS; references to women's issues; economic equality for
          women; ERA

     045. PRO-ABORTION; pro-choice; the right of a woman to control her body

     340. CRIME/VIOLENCE; too much crime; streets aren't safe; mugging,
          murder, shoplifting; drug related crime

     360. LAW AND ORDER; respect for the law/police; support for the police;
          death penalty; tougher sentences for criminals; need for more
          prisons

     361. Legal reform--general (for mentions regarding specific issues, see
          specific issue); see also Adhering to the Constitution (code 850)
         
*    363. Police brutality; police not doing their job properly  

     367. Against unregistered ownership of guns; legislative control of guns;
          "CONTROL OF GUNS"-NFS

     368. For gun ownership; right to have guns; against gun control

     370. EXTREMIST GROUPS/TERRORISTS; terrorist bombings/hostage-taking;
          political subversives; revolutionary ideas/approaches

     375. Euthenasia; right to die

     380. General mention of MORAL/RELIGIOUS DECAY (of nation); sex, bad
          language, adult themes on TV

     381. Family problems--divorce; proper treatment of children; decay of
          family (except 006); child/elder abuse (incl. sexual); family values

     046. ANTI-ABORTION; pro-life; "abortion"--NFS

     383. Problems of/with YOUNG PEOPLE; drug/alcohol abuse amoung young
          people; sexual attitudes; lack of values/ discipline; mixed-up
          thinking; lack of goals/ambition/sense of responsibility

     384. Religion (too) mixed up in politics; prayer in school

     385. HOMOSEXUALITY; protecting civil rights of gays and lesbians;
          accepting the lifestyle of homosexuals; granting homosexual couples
          the same rights and benefits as heterosexual couples

**   399. Other specific mention of racial or public order problems; other
          mention of domestic issues

ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS PROBLEMS

     If R mentions both "inflation" (400) and rise in prices of specific items
     (407-409), code "Inflation" (400).  (See also 496.)

     400. INFLATION; rate of inflation; level of prices; cost of living

     401. WAGE AND PRICE CONTROLS/GUIDELINES; freezing prices; control of
          business profits

     403. High price of food, all mentions (exc. 100)

     404. High price of other specific items and services

     405. MINIMUM WAGE, any mention; any mention of wage levels

     407. Food shortages; economic aspects of food shortages, e.g., price of
          sugar (other references, code 120)

     408. Fuel shortages; "energy crisis"; oil companies making excessive
          profits; depressed condition of the oil industry 

     410. RECESSION, DEPRESSION; prosperity of the nation; economic 
          growth; GNP

     411. MONETARY RESTRAINTS/CONTROLS; level of interest rates; availability
          of money/the money supply


     413. Future vision of what America will be like; a need to look to the
          future


     415. Against (increased) government spending; balancing of the (national)
          budget; against government stimulation of the economy; the size of
          the budget deficit

     416. TAXES; general reference to tax structure; tax surcharge (NA R's
          direction); tax reform; other specific tax reference

     417. For tax cuts; against tax surcharge; for tax reform

     418. Against tax cuts; for tax surcharge; against tax reform

     424. PRODUCTIVITY of American industry; "giving a day's work for a day's
          pay"; revitalizing American industry

     425. STOCK MARKET/GOLD PRICES; all references to gold prices, stock
          brokers, stock fluctuations, etc.

     427. VALUE OF THE DOLLAR; strength/weakness of the dollar against other
          currencies

     433. Large businesses taking over small businesses

     440. Class oriented economic concerns--middle class, working class (pro);
          MIDDLE CLASS GETTING SQUEEZED

     441. Class oriented economic concerns--big business, monied interests
          (anti) too powerful

     442. Concern for inequitable distribution of wealth; gap between the rich
          and the poor; concentration of wealth in the hands of a few

     451. For the regulation of interstate commerce, transportation, air
          travel, railways, government auto safety regulations; in favor of
          increased government regulation of business; mention of problems
          caused by deregulation 

     452. Against (increased) regulation of interstate commerce,
          transportation; AIR TRAVEL, RAILWAYS, etc.

     453. Solvency/stability/regulation/control of the nation's
          FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.  [1990] Savings and Loan scandal

*    460. IMMIGRATION POLICY; establishing limits on how many people from any
          one nation can enter the U.S.; prohibiting specified types of
          persons from entering the U.S. (All mentions of Elian Gonzales or
          "the Cuban child" go here.  If power of Federal government
          mentioned, see codes 801 and 887.)

     463. Problems relating to the influx of political/economic
          refugees (Cubans, Haitians, Mexicans, etc.)

     491. Economics--general; "Economics"--NFS

     492. International economics--general; economic problems in
          specific countries or regions

     493. U.S. foreign trade, balance of payments position;
          foreign oil dependency

     494. Control of FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN U.S.; mention of foreigners buying
          U.S. assets (businesses, real estate, stocks, etc)

     495. PROTECTION OF U.S. INDUSTRIES; imposition of tariffs/reciprocal
          restrictions on foreign imports; limitation of foreign imports;
          mention of problems in specific industries competin with foreign
          manufacturers

     496. The economy--not further specified (code specific mention if R
          clarifies by saying "inflation", etc.; also see 400)

     497. International competitiveness; outsourcing; loss of jobs
          to foreign competition; moving jobs abroad; modernizing
          plants/equipment/management techniques to meet foreign
          competition; matching the quality of foreign goods 

     498. Mention of "twin problems" of a large national debt/
          budget deficit and unfavorable balance of trade/import-export ratio

**   499. Other specific mention economic or business problems

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

     500. FOREIGN RELATIONS/FOREIGN AFFAIRS; foreign
          policy/relations, prestige abroad

     504. Relations with the Third World (no specific country or region
          mentioned)
    
     505. Relations with WESTERN EUROPE; Great Britain, France, Germany; 
          our allies

     510. VIETNAM; general reference to "the war," Indochina, Cambodia; aid

     514. Latin America, South America--any references; reference
          to war/situation in Nicaragua; U.S. support of the Contras

     515. Iran; mention of American hostages in Teheran; arms deal 

     516. African countries; developing areas in Africa (not 518)
          --any mention; U.S. response to apartheid in South Africa

     519. Other specific countries/areas/trouble spots (exc. 520's, 530's)

     524. MIDDLE EAST-- support or aid to Israel/Arab states; Arab/Israeli
          conflict; Iran-Iraq war; hostages in Lebanon/Middle East. [1990]
          Iraqi aggression in the Persian Gulf ; Saddam Hussein

     530. RUSSIA/Eastern Europe; relations with Russia/the Communist bloc;
          detente/trade/negotiations with Russia-- NA whether 531 or 532

     531. For PEACEFUL RELATIONS with Russia/Detente/Eastern
          Europe; for increased TRADE with Russia; talking/
          resuming negotiations with Russia on arms control/
          reduction (reaching/concluding a treaty is 711)

     532. Against policy of Detente with Russia; COLD WAR; threat
          of external Communism; need to oppose/be wary of Russia 

     533. Prevention of Russian (Communist) expansion; mention of
          Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan-- any
          reference; references to Soviet activity in Central
          America/Nicaragua)

*    535. US/NATO involvement in the Balkans; US/NATO led air war to 
          contain Serbia

     539. Other specific references to Russia/Detente/Eastern Europe, etc.
          (including changing site/boycotting 1980 Moscow Olympics); threat
          of/preventing war with Russia (exc. 714)

     540. FIRMNESS IN FOREIGN POLICY; maintenance of position of
          MILITARY/DIPLOMATIC STRENGTH (not 710-712)

     550. U.S. FOREIGN (MILITARY) INVOLVEMENT/COMMITMENT, extent
          of U.S. Foreign involvement; military assistance/aid (exc. 524)

     560. U.S. FOREIGN (ECONOMIC) INVOLVEMENT/COMMITMENTS; extent
          of U.S.(foreign) economic aid; "foreign aid"

     570. Prevention of war; ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE; any reference

     585. Obligation to TAKE CARE OF PROBLEMS AT HOME before
          helping foreign countries

**   599. Other specific mention of foreign affairs problems


NATIONAL DEFENSE

     700. NATIONAL DEFENSE; defense budget; level of spending on defense


     710. DISARMAMENT; general reference to ENDING OF THE ARMS RACE; nuclear
          proliferation; test ban treaty (not 540); SALT; INF treaty

     711. For DISARMAMENT; for extension of test ban treaty; support toward
          ending of arms race; against (additional) expenditures on
          military/arms development; SALT; SDI ("Star Wars"); INF treaty

     712. Against (increased) policy of DISARMAMENT; against test ban treaty;
          for additional WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT; missile program; 
          scientific/technological development in weapons/strategy; atomic
          bomb testing; increased DEFENSE BUDGET, increased arms expenditure
          (not 540); SALT; increased pay for military personnel; SDI ("Star
           Wars"); INF treaty

     713. General or specific references to functioning and performance of
          defense; waste, inefficiency (not codable in 710-712)

     714. Nuclear war; the threat of nuclear war; nuclear proliferation

*    715. Security of nuclear secrets; Dept of Energy/Los Alamos
          nuclear security; Wen Ho Lee or Energy Secretary Richard
          compromising security; supposed Chinese spying

     740. The space program; space race (not 711,712)

     750. MORALE OF NATION; Patriotism; National spirit; national
          unity; greed, selfishness of people

     760. BENEFITS FOR VETERANS; general reference

     765. Allowing/accepting GAYS IN THE MILITARY

**   799. Other specific mention of national defense problems

ISSUES RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT

     800. POWER OF THE (FEDERAL) GOVERNMENT; power of/control
          exercised by the federal government 


     810. (LACK OF) HONESTY IN GOVERNMENT; (LACK OF) ETHICS IN
          GOVERNMENT--general reference (exc. 811)

     811. LACK OF PERSONAL ETHICS/morality of persons related to
          or part of government

     812. The President lied/didn't tell the truth; covered up
          personal involvement with a young woman (also see more
          general code 874)

     813. The President has low morals; had affair with a young
          woman (also see more general code 874)


     820. CAMPAIGN DONATIONS/PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS; any
          mentions; campaign finance reform


     830. CONFIDENCE/TRUST in political leaders/system; wisdom,
          ability, responsiveness of political leaders; quality of
          leadership provided by political leaders


     833. QUALITY/EFFICIENCY of public employees, diplomats, civil
          service; SIZE OF THE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY; COST OF
          GOVERNMENT


     836. COMPENSATION; all references to the compensation of
          government employees, officials, congressmen, judges,
          local politicians/bureaucrats

     837. Waste in government spending; keeping tabs on where money goes

     838. Government BUDGET PRIORITIES are wrong; Congress/President is
          spending money in the wrong areas/not spending money on 
          the right things


     840. SIZE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; the (large) size of government/civil
          service/bureaucracy; the number of government
          departments/employees/programs

     850. Adhering to the Consitution (see also legal reform, code 361)

     853. POWER OF CONGRESS--general reference

     856. POWER OF THE SUPREME COURT, all other references to the
          Supreme Court except 857, 858

     859. Other specific references to the (federal) balance of
          power; legislative gridlock in Washington

     862. FAIR ELECTION PROCEDURES; prevention of vote
          manipulation; curbing of political "bosses", smear campaigns

     869. Other specific references to problems of representation;
          term limitations for members of Congress

     874. Lack of support for the President; any anti-President
          comments, negative reference to the PRESIDENT's quality,
          style, etc. (also see codes 812, 813)

     875. Impeachment proceeding; mention of the Special
          Prosecutor; Republicans attempting to get the President
          out of office/Democrats attempting to keep the President
          in office (also see codes 812, 813)

     878. Mention of a specific CANDIDATE or relative of a candidate -- NFS 

     881. New president/administration getting started; other
          references specific to the President; support for the
          President; "let him get on with his job"

     885. PUBLIC APATHY/disinterest--all references

     886. References to unfair/undeserved/excessive criticism by the media. 
          All media mentions should go here: "The news can't be trusted"

     887. Extending/protecting EQUAL RIGHTS, basic freedoms, human
          rights of all citizens

**   899. Other specific mention of problems relating to the functioning of
          government



NON-POLITICAL PROBLEMS


     995. "There were no issues"; "there were no issues, just party politics"

     996. "There was no campaign in my district"

**   997. Other specific mentions of important problems

     998. DK
     999. NA

     000. Inap, no further mention; no problems