Critical Analysis

1. Based on the data from the map and chart above, when the world’s nations are ranked from most to least corrupt how does the United States rank?

2. What does corrupt mean anyway and how does Transparency International define it?

3. Why do you think the U.S. ranks 25th on the corruption index?

4. What is one consequence of America’s worsening corruption ranking?

5. What exactly makes up a corruption score (see below*)?

6. According to Patricia Moreira, Director of Transparency America, “Corruption chips away at democracy to produce a vicious cycle, where corruption undermines democratic institutions and, in turn, weak institutions are less able to control corruption.” How do you explain the connection between democracy and corruption?

7. Describe the most powerful step the U.S. could take to diminish Political corruption and increase transparency?

8. American presidential candidates have been using the word corruption in this political campaign. Why do you think the word corruption resonates so deeply with voters?

9. The U.S. has fallen in the world corruption index ranking by 6 places over the past 9 year. According to Transparency International, “With a score of 67, the United States lost eight points in two years. The low score comes at a time when the US is experiencing threats to its system of checks and balances as well as an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power.” How will the continued erosion of American leadership impact our political future?

10. What are two steps a citizen could take who was opposed to government corruption?

Learning Extension

Action Extension

You can co-sponsor the American Anti-Corruption Act.

Visual Extension