PCT Creation Overview
Constructing the PCT is an exhaustive process that demands impartiality, keen attention to detail, and a breadth of understanding of the most salient and controversial issues of the day. The length of the full Political Courage Test is not set in stone beforehand, but the test should be as succinct as possible (between 20-25 questions for National, and between 35-45 for State). Below for each step, you will also see links for the wiki page that delves more in depth into each step, in addition to how to create the different types of PCT tests.
National PCT:
This is a nationally focused test given to all candidates for President and Congress.
State PCTs:
State Core Questions: General state level questions that should be applied to every state's test.
State Specific Questions: Questions that uniquely apply to each state/region.
Steps to PCT Creation:
1. Issue Research: The first step in researching the PCT is determining which issues should be included on the Test. The issues on the Test must be considered issues of national importance (or state, depending on the test) that will likely be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. Issues of national importance are determined by a rigorous examination of national and local polls, the majority, minority, and third party platforms, State of the Union and Response speeches, legislative agenda and media coverage.
2. Question Writing: Questions should capture the major issues found in step one. Questions need to be neutrally worded, non-leading, and specifically on one issue.
3. Approval: Political Courage Tests (both National and State) need to be approved by the Elections Research Director, National Director, the PCT Board Advisers, and the President. Additionally, the national PCT needs to be approved by the entire governing board.
4. Coding Into Admin: PCTs need to be carefully coded into admin using the NPAT editor, and properly assigned to the correct elections.
