Expecting
More Say
A Study of American Public Attitudes
on the Role of the Public In Government Decisions
POLL
QUESTIONNAIRE
Date: January
26-31, 1999 Sample size: 1204 respondents
Margins of error: Half sample (600*) +/- 4%
Three-quarter sample (900*) +/- 3.5% Whole sample (1204) +/- 3%
Results (including
demographics) are weighted to the Bureau of the Census's Current
Population Study for education level and age.
*Subsample sizes
are approximate due to the nature of random computer assignment
to subsamples.
[Full sample]
Q1. What is your feeling about how things are going with the economy
in the US? Overall, would you say the economy is getting better,
is getting worse, or staying about the same?
| Is getting better |
34.7% |
| Is getting worse |
14.7% |
| Is staying about the same |
47.4% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.2% |
[Full sample]
Q2. Is your personal financial situation getting better, getting
worse or staying about the same?
| Is getting better |
28.1% |
| Is getting worse |
13.6% |
| Is staying about the same |
57.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.7% |
[Full sample]
Q3. Over the years, how much attention do you feel the government
pays to what the people think when it decides what to do-a good
deal, some, or not much?
| A good deal |
7.4% |
| Some |
36.0% |
| Not much |
53.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.9% |
[Half sample]
Q4. In general, do you think people in government understand what
most Americans think-very well, somewhat well, not that well, or
not well at all?
| Very well |
5.1% |
| Somewhat well |
30.3% |
| Not that well |
32.5% |
| Not well at all |
30.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.5% |
[Half sample]
Q5. In general, do you think people in government understand what
people like you think-very well, somewhat well, not that well, or
not well at all?
| Very well |
2.4% |
| Somewhat well |
27.1% |
| Not that well |
32.8% |
| Not well at all |
34.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.1% |
Statement: For
the following two statements, please tell me whether you agree,
disagree, or neither agree nor disagree:
[Full sample]
Q6. Public officials don't care much what people like me think.
| Agree |
58.5% |
| Neither agree nor disagree |
12.0% |
| Disagree |
27.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.8% |
[Full sample]
Q7. Elected officials would make better decisions if they thought
more deeply about what they think is right.
| Agree |
79.2% |
| Neither agree nor disagree |
5.9% |
| Disagree |
12.2% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.8% |
[Full sample]
Q8. How much do you feel that having elections makes the government
pay attention to what the people think-a good deal, some, or not
much?
| A good deal |
30.0% |
| Some |
40.5% |
| Not much |
28.3% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.2% |
[Half sample]
Q9. What is more important when you vote for Congress-how things
are going in the country overall, or how things are going in your
own district?
| Country overall |
59.1% |
| Own district |
37.1% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.8% |
[Full sample]
Q10. How much of the time do you think you can trust the government
in Washington to do what is right-just about always, most of the
time, or only some of the time?
| Just about always |
2.3% |
| Most of the time |
17.1% |
| Only some of the time |
73.0% |
| None of the time (volunteered) |
6.9% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.8% |
[Full sample]
Q11. What is your hunch: About what percentage of the time does
Congress make decisions that are the same as the decisions that
you [the majority of Americans] would make?
[one-third heard
variant wording, which produced no effect.]
Those who said
"Don't know" were then asked "Do you think it is
about half the more than half the time, or less than half the time?"
Combined with those who gave a percentage, the distribution was:
| |
"you" |
"majority" |
| Less than half |
55.0% |
53.6% |
| Half |
29.5% |
26.1% |
| More than half |
14.5% |
18.1% |
Q12. Would you
say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking
out for themselves, or that it is run for the benefit of all the
people?
| A few big interests |
74.5% |
| Benefit of all the people |
18.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
7.0% |
[Half sample]
Statement: I'm going to read you a set of arguments that some people
have used when discussing the role of the public in government.
For each one, I'd like you to tell me whether you find it convincing
or unconvincing. [Arguments were presented in random order, alternating
pros and cons; whether a pro or con came first was randomized.]
PRO ARGUMENTS
Q13. The government
has become so bogged down in partisan conflict and so distorted
by the influence of moneyed interests that it is necessary for the
American public to have a stronger voice in shaping government decisions.
Do you find this argument convincing or unconvincing
| Convincing |
80.2% |
| Unconvincing |
17.8% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.0% |
Q14. The principles
of democracy are the cornerstone of the United States' form of government.
Therefore, as a general rule, the government should be guided by
the will of the majority when making decisions. Do you find this
argument convincing or unconvincing?
| Convincing |
76.5% |
| Unconvincing |
21.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.5% |
Q15. Nobody
knows what's best for the people better than the people. Paying
attention to the views of the majority would probably lead to policies
that are best for the country as a whole. Do you find this argument
convincing or unconvincing?
| Convincing |
73.6% |
| Unconvincing |
22.4% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.0% |
CON ARGUMENTS
Q16. The public
is emotional, volatile and uninformed. Therefore it is better for
policymakers not to be very influenced by the public's wishes when
making decisions. Do you find this argument convincing or unconvincing?
| Convincing |
19.9% |
| Unconvincing |
77.0% |
| Don't Know/Refused |
3.1% |
Q17. Members
of the government are well informed and are able to think through
issues thoughtfully and objectively. Therefore, their judgments
should count for more than the views of the public. Do you find
this argument convincing or unconvincing?
| Convincing |
25.7% |
| Unconvincing |
73.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.3% |
Q18. While there
are many problems in the way that the government works, increasing
the influence of the public is not really going to help. There is
really no reason to believe that the public is any better than the
people in the government.
| Convincing |
26.5% |
| Unconvincing |
69.7% |
| Don't know |
3.8% |
[Full sample]
Q19. Now I would like to ask you to consider how much influence
the views of the majority of Americans do have on the decisions
of elected officials in Washington. Please answer on a scale of
0 to 10, with 0 meaning not at all influential and 10 meaning extremely
influential.
[Full sample]
Q20. Now, using the same scale, I would like to know how much influence
you think the views of the majority of Americans should have on
the decisions of elected officials in Washington.
[Half sample
hears Q21 through Q23 in random order]
Statement: Using the same scale, I would like you to rate three
different parts of the government in terms of how much influence
the views of the majority of Americans have on them.
Q21. How much
would you say the majority's views influence the President?
Q22. How much
would you say the majority's views influence the Congress?
Q23. How much
would you say the majority's views influence your own member of
Congress?
[Half sample]
Q24. If the leaders of the nation followed the views of the public
more closely, do you think the nation would be better off, or worse
off than it is today?
| Better |
80.5% |
| Worse |
9.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
10.0% |
[Half sample]
Q25. Thinking about the average American, would you say you follow
what's going on in government and public affairs more closely or
less closely than the average American?
| More closely than average |
57.0% |
| Less closely than average |
25.1% |
| About average (volunteered)
|
17.3% |
| Don't know |
0.6% |
[Half sample]
Q26. Compared to the average American, would you say you are more
able or less able to make reasonable judgments about national issues?
| More able than average |
57.9% |
| Less able than average |
20.0% |
| About average (volunteered)
|
17.4% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.8% |
[Half sample]
Q27. I'm going to read two statements. Please tell me which statement
you agree with most.
A. Members of
Congress should not pay attention to polls that show their approval
ratings, because this will just make them react to every little
shift in their popularity
B. Members of
Congress should pay attention to polls that show their approval
rating, because this gives them a general measure of whether or
not they are heading in the right direction with the public.
| Statement A |
33.8% |
| Statement B |
61.2% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
2.6% |
| Don't know |
2.4% |
[Half sample
that did not hear Q27]
Q28. I'm going to read you two statements, please tell me which
statement you agree with most.
A. When members
of Congress are thinking about how to vote on an issue, they should
read up on polls on the issue, because this can help them get a
sense of the public's views on the issue.
B. When members
of Congress are thinking about how to vote on an issue, they should
not read up on polls, because this will distract them from thinking
about what they think is right.
| Statement A |
67.2% |
| Statement B |
26.3% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
3.2% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.3% |
[Half sample]
Q29. When you read about a poll how much confidence do you have
that you can judge whether it was done in a fair and scientific
manner-a great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?
| A great deal |
5.8% |
| A fair amount |
50.4% |
| Not very much |
29.8% |
| None at all |
12.7% |
| Don't know |
1.3% |
[Full sample]
Q30. If you asked a nationwide scientifically selected sample of
1,000 Americans a poll question, what percentage of the time do
you think that the results would be approximately the same as the
results you would get if you asked all Americans the same question?
[Full sample]
Q31. We'd like to know whom you think members of Congress should
pay more attention to when they make a decision Here are two arguments
on this issue. Please tell me which one you agree with more.
A. The member
should pay more attention to the views of people in the district
who write letters and call their member. Those who care more about
the issue are better informed and are often the people most affected
by the outcome.
B. The member
should pay more attention to the views of the majority of the people
in the district. It is a principle of democracy that the views of
the majority should carry more weight
| Statement A |
43.1% |
| Statement B |
53.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.1% |
[Half sample
hears Statement and Q32 Through Q35]
Statement: Imagine
that a group of 500 American citizens was selected from all over
the country to be representative of the entire US population. This
group then met and were informed about all sides of the debate on
a number of public policy issues and had a chance to discuss these
issues. Then they were asked to make decisions on what they thought
was the best approach to these issues.
Q32. Compared
to Congress, do you think that the decisions of the majority of
such a group would be more like the wishes of the majority of the
public, or less like the wishes of the majority of the public, than
the decisions that Congress makes?
| More like majority |
68.1% |
| Less like majority |
24.6% |
| Neither more nor less (volunteered) |
3.2% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.1% |
Q33. Do you
think that the decisions of the majority of such a group would probably
be better or worse than the decisions that Congress makes?
| Better |
66.3% |
| Worse |
15.0% |
| The same (volunteered) |
8.0% |
| Don't Know |
10.8% |
Q34. Do you
think this group would be more likely or less likely to come to
a consensus than Congress?
| More likely |
56.6% |
| Less likely |
31.2% |
| About the same |
5.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
7.2% |
Q35. Do you
think this group would probably favor or oppose impeaching President
Clinton and removing him from office?
| Favor |
27.4% |
| Oppose |
59.6% |
| Don't know/Refused |
13.0% |
[Half sample]
Q36. Please
tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement: The
goal of Congress should be to make the decisions that the majority
of Americans would make if they had the information and time to
think things over that Congress has.
| Agree |
85.4% |
| Disagree |
12.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.5% |
[Half sample
that did not hear Q36]
Q37. What do you think is the more important question members of
Congress should ask themselves when making decisions?
A. What does
the majority of the public think is best?
B. What would
the majority of the public probably think was best if it was well
informed about all sides of the issue?
| What does it think best? |
29.3% |
| What would it think best? |
65.1% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
1.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.2% |
[Half sample]
Q38. Is it your impression that the wealth in the US is becoming
more equally distributed -or that the rich are getting an increasingly
larger share?
| More equally distributed |
18.9% |
| Rich are getting a larger share
|
74.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
6.5% |
[Half sample]
Q39. Over the last ten years would you say that, overall, corporations
have gained influence or lost influence on the US government?
| Gained influence |
67.5% |
| Lost influence |
23.9% |
| Stayed about the same (volunteered) |
3.4% |
| Don't know |
5.2% |
[Half sample
that did not hear Q39]
Q40. Over the last ten years would you say that, overall, the wealthy
have gained influence or lost influence on the US government?
| Gained influence |
69.2% |
| Lost influence |
22.1% |
| Stayed about the same (volunteered)
|
4.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.3% |
[Half sample,
one-quarter sample heard Q39 first and one-quarter sample heard
Q40]
Q41. If the
American public had more influence on US government policy, do you
think that this would be probably have a positive effect or a negative
effect on the economic position of people like you?
| Positive effect |
77.1% |
| Negative effect |
14.8% |
| No effect (volunteered) |
1.9% |
| Don't know/Refused |
6.2% |
[Half sample]
Q42. When your Representative in Congress votes on an issue, which
should be more important-the way voters in your district feel about
that issue, or the Representative's own principles and judgment
about what is best for the country?
| Way voters feel |
68.5% |
| Principles and judgment |
25.3% |
| Both equal (vol.) |
4.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.2% |
[Half sample
that did not hear Q42]
Q43. If a member of Congress is involved in developing legislation
on an issue and he finds that the majority of people in his district
favor a course of action that is different from the one that he
thinks is best, should he:
A. Do what he
thinks is best, on the basis that he should not be swayed by external
pressures.
B. Accept the
will of the majority, on the basis of democratic principles.
C. Reevaluate
his position and look for a new alternative, on the basis that there
is probably something valid in the majority's position.
| Statement A |
19.1% |
| Statement B |
23.1% |
| Statement C |
54.8% |
| None of these (volunteered)
|
1.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.0% |
[Half sample]
Q44. With which of the following statements do you most agree?
A. Democracy
works best when each member of Congress votes in terms of what is
best for his or her district. The process of majority rule will
then produce the best outcome overall.
B. Each member
of Congress should think about what the whole country's interests
are and together with other members try to find a consensus about
what is best for the country.
| Statement A |
31.5% |
| Statement B |
66.5% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
0.9% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.1% |
[Half sample]
Q45. Do you think your own Representative in Congress is more interested
in doing what's best for the country, or what's best for your congressional
district?
| What's best for the country |
33.3% |
| What's best for your congressional
district |
47.8% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
5.4% |
| Both (volunteered) |
4.1% |
| It depends (volunteered) |
0.8% |
| Don't know/Refused |
8.5% |
[Half sample]
Q46. Generally, do you think most members of Congress are more interested
in doing what's best for the country, or what's best for their own
congressional district?
| What's best for the country |
19.1% |
| What's best for their congressional
district |
71.4% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
3.7% |
| Both (volunteered) |
1.4% |
| It depends (volunteered) |
1.0% |
| Don't know |
3.4% |
[Half sample]
Q47. Do you think your own representative in Congress should be
more interested in doing what's best for the country, or what's
best for your congressional district?
| What's best for the country
|
52.2% |
| What's best for your congressional
district |
37.7% |
| Neither (volunteered) |
0.1% |
| Both (volunteered) |
8.2% |
| It depends (volunteered) |
0.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.1% |
[Full sample]
Q48. Statement: For each of the following two statements, please
tell me whether you agree, disagree, or neither agree nor disagree.
Here's the first one:
Sometimes politics
and government seem so complicated that a person like me can't really
understand what's going on.
| Agree |
61.4% |
| Neither agree nor disagree |
7.3% |
| Disagree |
30.8% |
| Don't know |
0.5% |
[Full sample]
Q49. People like me don't have any say about what the government
does.
| Agree |
55.7% |
| Neither agree nor disagree |
6.5% |
| Disagree |
37.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.8% |
[Three-quarter
sample]
Q50. Which of the following would you regard as most likely to show
the greatest wisdom on questions of what the government should do-the
views of: the majority of Republicans, the majority of Democrats,
or the majority of the public as a whole?
| The majority of Republicans |
9.0% |
| The majority of Democrats |
9.3% |
| The majority of the public as
a whole |
76.5% |
| Don't know/Refused |
5.3% |
[One-quarter
sample that did not hear Q50]
Q51. Which of the following would you prefer to have the most influence
on the government-the views of: the majority of Republicans, the
majority of Democrats, or the majority of the public as a whole?
| The majority of Republicans |
12.7% |
| The majority of Democrats |
9.7% |
| The majority of the public as
a whole |
72.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.8% |
Statement: Now
on a slightly different subject, I'm going to ask you some questions
about the proceedings currently going on in Washington, DC.
[Full sample]
Q52. Do you approve or disapprove of the House of Representatives
voting to impeach President Clinton?
| Approve |
39.1% |
| Disapprove |
56.8% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.1% |
[Half sample]
Q53. Do you think that most members of the House of Representatives
who voted in favor of impeachment were mainly trying to do what
is best for the country, or do you think they were mainly motivated
by some other reason?
| Best for country |
30.8% |
| Other reason |
66.2% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.0% |
[Half sample]
Q54. Throughout the Kenneth Starr investigation and the process
leading to impeachment, do you feel that the government has behaved
in a way that is consistent or not consistent with the wishes of
the majority of the American public?
| Consistent |
22.8% |
| Not consistent |
68.7% |
| Don't know/Refused |
8.5% |
[Half sample
that did not hear Q54]
Q55. Do you think that the majority of Americans approved or disapproved
of the House of Representatives impeaching President Clinton?
| Approved |
24.2% |
| Disapproved |
67.4% |
| Don't know/Refused |
8.3% |
[Half sample]
Q56. Thinking about the Kenneth Starr investigation and the House
of Representatives' decision to impeach the President, would you
say that what you've heard has made you feel more likely to vote
Democratic, more likely to vote Republican, or more likely not to
vote at all?
| More likely to vote Democratic |
33.2% |
| More likely to vote Republican
|
22.5% |
| More likely not to vote at all |
28.2% |
| No effect (volunteered) |
12.8% |
| Don't know/Refused |
3.4% |
[Half sample]
Q57. Thinking about the Kenneth Starr investigation and the House
of Representatives' decision to impeach the President would you
say that what you've heard has made you feel more like paying attention
to politics, or feel less like paying attention to politics?
| More like paying attention |
43.5% |
| Less like paying attention |
43.3% |
| Made no difference (volunteered) |
11.4% |
| Don't know |
1.7% |
[Three-quarter
sample heard Q58 and Q59]
Q58. Do you think the Senate should or should not remove President
Clinton from office?
| Should |
31.2% |
| Should not |
63.2% |
| Don't know/Refused |
5.6% |
Q59. Do you
think the majority of Americans favors or opposes removing President
Clinton from office?
| Favors |
23.1% |
| Opposes |
68.4% |
| Don't know/Refused |
8.5% |
[Half sample]
Q60. Thinking about how your Senators might vote, if one or both
of your Senators votes to remove President Clinton from office,
do you think this might have some influence on whether you vote
for that Senator in the next election? Please tell me if this would
make you a bit less likely to vote for that Senator, somewhat less
likely, much less likely, or would it make you a bit more likely,
somewhat more likely, or much more likely to vote for that Senator?
| Much less likely |
24.9% |
| Somewhat less likely |
9.2% |
| A bit less likely |
11.1% |
| A bit more likely |
7.6% |
| Somewhat more likely |
7.9% |
| Much more likely |
17.5% |
| No effect (volunteered) |
8.9% |
| Don't know/Refused |
12.7% |
[Full sample
for Demographics section]
Q61. Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and
public affairs most of the time, whether there's an election going
on or not. Others aren't that interested. Would you say you follow
what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time,
some of the time, only now and then, or hardly at all?
| Most of the time |
46.6% |
| Some of the time |
34.8% |
| Only now and then |
13.2% |
| Hardly at all |
5.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.3% |
Q62. We hear
a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. Here
is a 7-point scale on which the political views that people might
hold are arranged: Extremely liberal, liberal, slightly liberal,
moderate or middle of the road, slightly conservative, conservative,
and extremely conservative. Where would you place yourself on this
scale, or haven't you thought much about this?
| Extremely liberal |
1.6% |
| Liberal |
6.5% |
| Slightly liberal |
7.6% |
| Moderate or middle of the road |
28.8% |
| Slightly conservative |
14.9% |
| Conservative |
16.1% |
| Extremely conservative |
3.6% |
| Haven't thought about it |
20.4% |
| Refused |
0.6% |
Q63. Are you
a registered voter?
| Yes |
83.5% |
| No |
16.2% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.3% |
Q64. Did you
vote for a candidate for President in the last election in 1996?
| Yes |
68.9% |
| No |
30.3% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.8% |
Q65. Have you
ever contributed money or done volunteer work in support of a Presidential
or Congressional candidate?
| Yes |
23.6% |
| No |
75.8% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.6% |
Q66. In politics
today, do you think of yourself as:
| Strongly Republican |
12.8% |
| Leaning toward Republican |
13.6% |
| Leaning toward Democrat |
12.8% |
| Strongly Democrat |
21.0% |
| Independent |
33.2% |
| Other |
1.8% |
| Don't know/Refused |
4.8% |
Q67. What is
your age?
| 18 to 29 |
22.2% |
| 30 to 45 |
32.4% |
| 46 to 65 |
28.4% |
| Over 65 |
16.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
1.1% |
Q68. What is
the highest level of education that you have had?
| Up through high school |
18.0% |
| High school graduate |
33.2% |
| Some college |
26.1% |
| 4 year college degree |
15.1% |
| Advanced degree |
6.9% |
| Don't know/Refused |
0.7% |
Q69. What is
your ethnic affiliation?
| White/Caucasian |
76.7% |
| Black/ African American |
9.3% |
| Hispanic/Latino |
7.0% |
| Other |
5.0% |
| Don't know/Refused |
2.0% |
Q70. Here is
a range of household incomes. Just stop me when I read an amount
that is more than the correct category for your household income
for last year (1998).
| $15,000 |
10.2% |
| $25,000 |
18.8% |
| $45,000 |
28.5% |
| $70,000 |
18.7% |
| $100,000 |
8.7% |
| More than $100,000 |
6.6% |
| Don't know/Refused |
8.6% |
Q71. Sex of
respondent
