Vox Populi: Democracy In Crisis

Studies Discussed

"Washington Leaders Wary of Public Opinion"
By The Pew Research Center For The People & The Press,
Andrew Kohut, Director

Study Overview

A survey of members of congress, Clinton Appointees, and Senior Civil Servants in Association with National Journal

Washington's leaders and the American public are out of step with one another. Public distrust of government is paralleled by a belief among members of Congress, presidential appointees and senior civil servants that the American public is too ill-informed to make wise decisions about important issues. Washington leaders also significantly underestimate the public's appetite for an activist government, at least in part because their perception of public distrust of government is so pervasive.

These are among the principal findings of a Pew Research Center survey of top government officials designed to find out how leaders view the public and how they appraise their jobs in an era characterized by distrust of government. Based on personal interviews with 81 members of Congress, 98 presidential appointees, and 151 members of the Senior Executive Service, the poll found that while most officials like their jobs and feel that they can bring about changes, they also feel the pressures of public distrust.

The survey, conducted in association with the National Journal, also found members of Congress, Clinton appointees and senior civil servants highly critical of news coverage of government that affords the public a window on Washington.

More on “Public Appetite for Government Misjudged”