Supreme Court
Americans Favor Televising Supreme Court Healthcare Case
Large majorities of Republicans and Democrats favor cameras in the high court for this case
December 9, 2011
Most Americans, including large majorities of Republicans and Democrats, think television cameras should be allowed into the U.S. Supreme Court when it hears the case involving the U.S. healthcare law. Support is a bit higher among younger Americans than those 55 and older.
Supreme Court Approval Rating Dips to 46%
Down 15 percentage points from 2009
October 3, 2011
Forty-six percent of Americans approve of the job the U.S. Supreme Court is doing, down 5 percentage points from 2010 and 15 points from 2009. While 42% say the Supreme Court is ideologically "about right," more believe it is too liberal (31%) than too conservative (20%).
Americans Most Confident in Military, Least in Congress
Confidence in most institutions below their historical average
June 23, 2011
Gallup's annual update on confidence in institutions finds Americans expressing the most confidence in the military and the least in Congress. This year, there has been a slight uptick in Americans' confidence in television news and newspapers, though each ranks in the lower half of the 16 institutions tested.
Supreme Court Starts Term With 51% Approval
High court's approval rating is down from 2009, but exceeds that of other two branches
October 6, 2010
The U.S. Supreme Court begins a new term with 51% of Americans approving of the way it handles its job, down from 2009. Democrats are more positive about the high court than are either independents or Republicans.
Trust in Legislative Branch Falls to Record-Low 36%
Trust also down in executive and judicial branches
September 24, 2010
A record-low 36% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the government's legislative branch, down sharply from last year's record low of 45%. Trust in the judicial branch and trust in the executive branch also declined significantly this year but remain higher than trust in the legislative branch.
Support for Confirming Elena Kagan Remains in Mid-40s
The 36% opposed matches the highest recorded for successful nominees
August 4, 2010
As the U.S. Senate prepares to confirm Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, Gallup finds support for her holding in the mid-40s -- low for successful nominees. The 36% opposed to her confirmation is identical to that seen for Sonia Sotomayor in 2009, while the 18% with no opinion is higher.
Congress Ranks Last in Confidence in Institutions
Fifty percent "very little"/"no" confidence in Congress reading is record high
July 22, 2010
Gallup's 2010 Confidence in Institutions poll finds Congress ranking dead last out of the 16 institutions rated this year. Also, the 50% of Americans saying they have little or no confidence in Congress is the highest for any institution since Gallup first asked this question in 1973.
Americans Favor Confirming Kagan to High Court, 44% to 34%
Would be first recent nominee to win approval with less than majority public support
July 15, 2010
More Americans favor (44%) than oppose (34%) Senate confirmation of Elena Kagan's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, though she stands to be the first recent nominee confirmed with less than majority public support.
Support for Confirming Kagan Trails That of Recent Nominees
Forty-six percent want Senate to vote in favor of her nomination
June 4, 2010
Forty-six percent of Americans want the Senate to vote in favor of Elena Kagan's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court while 32% do not. The initial level of support for Kagan's confirmation is lower than that for recent nominees other than Harriet Miers and Robert Bork.
Initial Reaction: 40% Positive Toward Kagan Nomination
Excellent/Good ratings below average for recent court nominees
May 11, 2010
Forty percent of Americans rate President Barack Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court as an "excellent" or "good" choice and 14% as "poor." Her initial ratings are similar to what Gallup measured for Samuel Alito and Harriet Miers, but less positive than those for John Roberts and Sonia Sotomayor.
Related Items
The State of the Union Speech and Public Opinion
January 29, 2010
Public Agrees With Court: Campaign Money Is "Free Speech"
January 22, 2010
Gallup.Com Year in Review
December 31, 2009
Americans’ Trust in Legislative Branch at Record Low
September 10, 2009
High Court to Start Term With Near Decade-High Approval
September 9, 2009
Support for Sotomayor Confirmation Holds Steady at 53%
July 13, 2009
Americans’ Confidence in Military Up, Banks Down
June 24, 2009
