Government

Gallup's Pulse of Democracy

Fixing Government

Guidance for Lawmakers	Americans' responses to questions asking about the representative aspect of the federal government are generally very negative. Americans believe congressional representatives and senators are not highly honest and ethical. The public has low levels of confidence in Congress and ranks the federal government near the bottom of the list of industry or business sectors. As many Americans say most members of Congress are corrupt as say they are not. As a result, Americans generally favor almost any effort to remedy this situation. Most support campaign finance laws proposed to help fix the election process. The majority of Americans believe Congress would do a better job if it paid more attention to public opinion and less attention to Congress members' own personal views. Americans favor term-limit laws, disclosure laws, and efforts to reform elections.
Fine Print	Not all views of the federal government are negative. Americans are generally more positive about their local elected representatives than they are about Congress or government as a whole. Americans are also more positive about local and state governments than they are about the federal government. They also tend to rate the Supreme Court more positively than the president and, in particular, Congress. A little more than half of Americans say they are satisfied with the general system of government in this country in general and how it works. More than half of Americans say they have trust and confidence in the federal government to handle international and domestic issues.
Context	Concern and worry about the men and women elected to serve in the federal government has long been a concern of Americans. Ratings of Congress are usually below 50% and at times have been in the 20% range for many months at a time. This historical pattern suggests the perception of a certain inevitability of bad government, and may help explain why there is not more of an uproar from the people than might be expected.
Urgency: Overall Importance as Political Issue	Half of Americans said corruption in government was an extremely important issue to their vote for Congress in 2006, ranking second only to the war in Iraq in a list of issues facing the nation. Still, it is relatively rare in recent American electoral history that corruption or "bad government" at the national level has been a major factor in the outcome of presidential elections.
Impact on 2008 Vote	Gallup polling conducted in 2007 indicated that Americans, more than anything else, want their next president to be "honest," suggesting indirectly that these broad issues relating to how government works may be important to Americans as they vote in 2008. Americans, in the past year, have said that Democrats are better able to handle corruption than are the Republicans, but still, only about a third give either party high marks on this issue.
Key Subgroup Differences	Democrats are much more negative on the way in which government works than are Republicans at this point, no doubt reflecting GOP control of government through 2006. Job approval of Congress went up after the new Democrat-controlled Congress came into office in January 2007, but quickly fell off again.
The Bottom Line	Americans have long been cynical about their elected representatives and the way in which the representative democracy works. Ratings of Congress are low, and Americans have relatively little faith in Congress. Americans give elected representatives low marks on honesty and ethics. Thus, Americans favor almost any efforts to make these aspects of the government system more representative and workable. It is not yet clear just how important the way government works will be in the 2008 presidential election, particularly because these concerns have, for the most part, been around for many decades. The public may have grown jaded by this point.

On the whole, would you say you are satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed?

	Satisfied	Dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Sep 8-11	26	72	2
2007 Sep 14-16	31	67	2
2006 Sep 7-10	41	57	2
2005 Sep 12-15	44	55	1
2004 Sep 13-15	49	49	2
2003 Sep 8-10	56	43	1
2002 Sep 5-8	59	39	2
2001 Sep 7-10	57	39	4
1991 May 23-26 ^	58	39	3
1984 Dec 7-10	55	37	8
1973 Sep 21-24 †	26	66	8
1971 Dec 10-13 †	37	54	9

^ WORDING: the way the nation is governed
† WORDING: the way this nation is being governed

Some people think the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses. Others think that government should do more to solve our country's problems. Which comes closer to your own view?

	Government doing too much	Government should do more	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Sep 8-11	53	41	6
2007 Sep 14-16	49	43	8
2006 Sep 7-10	47	44	9
2005 Sep 12-15	50	44	6
2004 Nov 19-21	55	36	9
2004 Sep 13-15	49	41	10
2003 Oct 24-26	52	40	8
2003 Sep 8-10	51	43	6
2002 Sep 5-8	50	43	7
2001 Oct 5-6	41	50	9
2001 Sep 7-10	55	36	9
2000 Sep 11-13	50	37	13
2000 Aug 18-19	54	38	8
1999 Sep 10-14	55	39	6
1998 Oct 29-30	50	38	12
1998 Apr 17-19	59	33	8
1997 Jan 31-Feb 2	58	33	9
1996 Jan 12-15	58	35	7
1995 Dec 15-19	60	32	8
1994 Nov 2-6	55	37	8
1994 Oct 22-25	57	37	6
1994 Jan 15-17	54	39	7
1993 Dec 17-19	55	38	7
1993 Apr 22-24	49	45	6
1993 Mar 22-24	45	49	6
1992 Oct 23-25	48	44	8
1992 Sep 11-15	51	43	6
1992 Aug 31-Sep 2	50	43	7

Some people think the government should promote traditional values in our society. Others think the government should not favor any particular set of values. Which comes closer to your own view?

	Promote traditional values	Not favor any set of values	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Sep 8-11	48	48	4
2007 Sep 14-16	49	45	7
2006 Sep 7-10	50	44	6
2005 Sep 12-15	50	47	3
2004 Nov 19-21	55	41	4
2004 Sep 13-15	54	41	5
2003 Sep 8-10	56	40	4
2002 Sep 5-8	56	38	6
2001 Oct 5-6	59	39	3
2001 Sep 7-10	53	41	6
2000 Sep 11-13	54	38	8
1999 Sep 10-14	56	39	5
1998 Oct 29-30	56	37	7
1998 Apr 17-19	55	38	7
1997 Jan 31-Feb 2	53	40	7
1996 Jan 12-15	59	36	5
1994 Nov 2-6	55	37	8
1994 Oct 22-25	55	40	5
1994 Jan 15-17	54	40	6
1993 Dec 17-19	57	37	6
1993 Apr 22-24	55	39	6
1993 Mar 22-24	53	42	5

In general, do you think there is too much, too little or about the right amount of government regulation of business and industry?

	Too much	Too little	Right amount	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
*Gallup Poll*
2008 Sep 8-11	38	27	31	3
2007 Sep 14-16	38	26	33	4
2006 Sep 7-10	36	28	30	6
2005 Sep 12-15	34	23	40	3
2004 Sep 13-15	37	24	34	5
2003 Sep 8-10	37	25	35	3
2002 Sep 5-8	35	31	31	3
2002 Jun 28-30	32	33	30	5
2002 Feb 8-10	28	30	39	3
2001 Sep 7-10	41	17	38	4
1993 Mar 22-24	37	28	30	5

*Los Angeles Times*
1991 Apr	27	29	36	8
1981 Mar	54	18	14	14

Do you think the federal government today -- [ROTATED: has too much power, has about the right amount of power, or has too little power]?

	Too much	About the right amount	Too little	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2008 Sep 8-11	52	40	6	2
2007 Sep 14-16	56	36	6	2
2006 Sep 7-10	52	40	6	2
2005 Sep 12-15	50	43	6	1
2004 Sep 13-15	42	49	7	2
2003 Sep 8-10	43	49	7	1
2002 Sep 5-8	39	52	7	2

Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with the way the federal government in Washington is dealing with the problems the country is facing today?

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Very dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Sep 5-7	3	17	28	51	1

Next, we'd like to know how you feel about some things as far as their future is concerned. Please say whether you feel generally optimistic about -- [ITEMS ROTATED] -- as far as the future is concerned, generally pessimistic about it, or uncertain about it.

A. Our system of government and how well it works

	Generally optimistic	Generally pessimistic	Uncertain	No opinion
2008 Jan 10-13	44%	23	33	1
1999 Feb 4-8	53%	19	27	1
1996 Mar 8-10	43%	28	28	1

Trends for Comparison: The Roper Organization

	Generally optimistic	Generally pessimistic	Uncertain	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
1983 Feb	51	21	27	1
1981 Feb	51	21	26	2
1979 Feb	49	22	26	3
1977 Aug	47	21	29	3
1977 Feb	57	14	26	2
1975 Aug	45	24	29	3
1974 Aug	55	15	27	3

Next, I'm going to read you a list of things that are considered by some to be problems with the way things work in Washington. For each, please tell me whether you, personally, consider it to be -- a crisis, a major problem, a minor problem, or not a problem. How about -- [RANDOM RODER]?

A. The failure of the government to solve the major challenges facing the country in the last few years

	Crisis	Major problem	Minor problem	Not a problem	No opinion
2008 Jan 10-13	28%	52	16	3	2

B. Democratic and Republican leaders making decisions based on what is best for their party even if it is not in the best interests of the country

	Crisis	Major problem	Minor problem	Not a problem	No opinion
2008 Jan 10-13	23%	57	16	3	2

C. Powerful special interests having too much control over what the government does

	Crisis	Major problem	Minor problem	Not a problem	No opinion
2008 Jan 10-13	29%	53	14	3	2

Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields -- very high, high, average, low, or very low? First, ... Next, ... [RANDOM ORDER]

2007 Nov 30-Dec 2	Very high	High	Average	Low	Very low	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
Congressmen	1	8	45	33	12	1
Judges	8	38	41	9	3	1
Local officeholders	1	19	56	18	5	1
Military officers	18	47	28	4	1	2
State officeholders	1	11	55	27	6	1
Lobbyists	1	4	33	37	21	4

Trend on honesty and ethical standards of senators and congressmen: based on percentage saying "very high" or "high"

	Senators	Congressmen
	%	%
2007	N/A	9
2006	15	14
2005	16	14
2004	N/A	20
2003	20	17
2002	N/A	17
2001	25	25
2000	24	21
1999	17	11
1998	19	17
1997	14	12
1996	15	14
1995	12	10
1994	12	10
1993	18	14
1992	13	11
1991	19	19
1990	24	20
1988	19	16
1985	23	20
1983	16	14
1981	20	15
1977	19	16
1976	19	15

N/A: Not asked

Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one -- a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little? First, ... Next, [RANDOM ORDER]

2008 Jun 9-12	Great deal	Quite a lot	Some	Very little	None (vol.)	No opinion
The U.S. Supreme Court	13%	19	44	17	1	5
The Presidency	13%	13	25	41	7	2
Congress	6%	6	45	38	3	2

Trend on confidence in institutions: Based on percentage saying "great deal" or "quite a lot"

	The U.S. Supreme Court	The presidency	Congress
	%	%	%
2008 Jun 9-12	32	26	12
2007 Jun 11-14	34	25	14
2006 Jun 1-4	40	33	19
2005 May 23-26	41	44	22
2004 May 21-23	46	52	30
2003 Jun 9-10	47	55	29
2002 Jun 21-23	50	58	29
2001 Jun 8-10	50	48	26
2000 Jun 22-25	47	42	24
1999 Jun 25-27	49	49	26
1998 Jun 5-7	50	53	28
1997 Jul 25-27	50	49	22
1996 May 28-29	45	39	20
1995 Apr 21-24	44	45	21
1994 Mar 25-27	42	38	18
1993 Mar 22-24	44	43	18
1991 Oct 10-13	39	50	18
1991 Mar 1	48	72	30
1990 Aug 16-19	47	N/A	24
1989 Sep 7-10	46	N/A	32
1988 Sep 23-26	56	N/A	35
1987 Jul 10-13	52	N/A	N/A
1986 Jul 11-14	54	N/A	41
1985 May 17-20	56	N/A	39
1984 Oct 6-10	51	N/A	29
1983 Aug 5-8	42	N/A	28
1981 Nov 20-23	46	N/A	29
1979 Apr 6-9	45	N/A	34
1977 Jan 7-10	46	N/A	40
1975 May 30-Jun 2	49	N/A	40
1973 May 4-7	44	N/A	42

N/A: Not asked

I'd like to ask you about your member of Congress. Would you say that your member of Congress is [RANDOM ORDER]? Next, is your member [ITEM INSERTED]?

A. Corrupt or not corrupt

	Corrupt	Not corrupt	No opinion
2006 Apr 28-30	22%	67	11
2006 Jan 6-8	22%	68	10
1994 Oct 22-24	27%	65	8

B. Focused on the needs of special interests, or focused on the needs of the constituents in your district

	Special interests	Constituents	No opinion
2006 Apr 28-30	40%	48	12
2006 Jan 6-8	40%	49	11
1994 Oct 22-24	42%	47	11

C. Generally out of touch with average Americans or generally in touch

	Out of touch	In touch	No opinion
2006 Apr 28-30	77%	22	1
2006 Jan 6-8	69%	28	2
1994 Oct 22-24	75%	23	2

I'd like to ask you about most members of Congress. Would you say that most members of Congress are [RANDOM ORDER]? Next, are most members [ITEM INSERTED]?

A. Corrupt or not corrupt

	Corrupt	Not corrupt	No opinion
2006 Apr 28-30	47%	46	7
2006 Jan 6-8	38%	55	7
1994 Oct 22-24	50%	44	6

B. Focused on the needs of special interests, or focused on the needs of the constituents in your district

	Special interests	Constituents	No opinion
2006 Apr 28-30	65%	30	6
2006 Jan 6-8	54%	40	6
1994 Oct 22-24	58%	37	5

C. Generally out of touch with average Americans or generally in touch

	Out of touch	In touch	No opinion
2006 Apr 28-30	38%	55	7
2006 Jan 6-8	38%	58	5
1994 Oct 22-24	41%	54	5

If the leaders of our 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 off	Worse off	No difference (vol.)	No opinion
2005 Sep 12-15	73%	22	3	2
2001 Sep 7-10	75%	18	4	3
1996 Apr 25-28 ^	80%	11	--	9
1975 Oct 3-6	67%	16	9	8

^ Asked of half sample

If the leaders of our nation followed the views of public opinion polls more closely, do you think the nation would be better off, or worse off than it is today?

	Better off	Worse off	No difference (vol.)	No opinion
2005 Sep 12-15	61%	33	3	3
2001 Sep 7-10	63%	27	6	4
1996 Apr 25-28 ^	73%	14	--	13
(vol.) = Volunteered response
^ Asked of half sample