In your view, how good a job are President Obama and the current Congress doing in dealing with the United States' most important problems -- [ROTATED: very good, good, poor, (or) very poor]?

Compared with how presidents and Congress have dealt with the nation's problems in the past, do you think President Obama and the current Congress are doing -- [ROTATED: a better job, about the same, (or are they doing) a worse job]?

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?

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?

As I read off each of the following, please tell me whether you think it has too much power, about the right amount of power, or not enough power. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

(Asked of a half sample) Next, please say whether you favor or oppose cutting government spending in each of the following areas. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

(Asked of a half sample) What is the one thing you would recommend be done to fix the federal government? [OPEN-ENDED]

Can you please give me an example of something the federal government is currently doing that you think it should NOT be doing? [OPEN-ENDED]

Can you please give me an example of something the federal government is currently NOT doing that you think it SHOULD be doing? [OPEN-ENDED]

Please tell me whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following statements. [RANDOM ORDER]

A. In general, businesses can do things more efficiently than the government

B. In general, the way the government does things is fairer and more just to everyone involved than the way businesses do things

C. There are some functions, such as building roads or funding research, the government needs to pay for because there are no incentives for private institutions to do so

D. Business will harm society if it is not regulated by government

Next, I'm going to read a list of functions the federal government could serve. On a 1 to 5 scale, please say how much responsibility you think the government should have for each -- with 1 meaning the government should have no responsibility at all and 5 meaning the government should have total responsibility in this area. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Protecting Americans from foreign threats

B. Preventing discrimination

C. Upholding moral standards among its citizens

D. Making sure that all those who want jobs have them

E. Reducing income differences between the rich and the poor

F. Making sure that all Americans have adequate healthcare

G. Protecting consumers against unsafe products

H. Providing a minimum standard of living for all

I. Protecting the environment from human actions that can harm it

J. Developing and maintaining the nation's transportation systems

K. Protecting major U.S. corporations that are in danger of going out of business

Which comes closer to your view -- [ROTATED: most Americans demand more from the government than they are willing to pay taxes for, (or) most Americans are willing to pay the taxes needed to fund services they expect government to provide]?

(Asked of those who believe government poses an immediate threat) In what ways do you see the government posing an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of its citizens? [OPEN-ENDED]

BASED ON THOSE WHO THINK THE GOVERNMENT POSES AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF ITS CITIZENS

When it comes to the issues facing the country today, in general, do you think the federal government is -- [ROTATED: more a part of the problem (or) more a part of the solution]?

Do you think President Obama's proposals to address the major problems facing the country call for too much expansion of government power, the right amount, or not enough expansion of government power?

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?

Thinking about the way the federal government has responded to the financial crisis in recent months, generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the expansion of the government's role in the economy?

(Asked of those who approve of the expanded government role) Would you like to see the government's expanded role in the economy become permanent, or would you like to see the government reduce its role once the financial crisis is over?

COMBINED RESULTS: BASED ON FULL SAMPLE

(Asked of a half sample) Do you think President Obama's proposals to address the economic problems in the country call for too big an expansion of government power, the right amount, or not a big enough expansion of government power?

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

Trends for Comparison: The Roper Organization

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 OrDER]?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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