Moral Issues
U.S. Satisfaction Up to 22%
Economy, jobs continue to rank as most important problems
February 9, 2012
Though Americans remain largely dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., the 22% who are satisfied is up from 15% in December and is the highest since last spring.
In U.S., Support for Death Penalty Falls to 39-Year Low
Fifty-two percent say the death penalty is applied fairly
October 13, 2011
Sixty-one percent of Americans approve of using the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, down from 64% last year, and the lowest level of support since 1972. Republicans, men, whites, and those living in the Midwest and the South are most likely to support its use.
Americans Divided on Gov't Role in Promoting Values
Support for government's promoting traditional values slips among Republicans
October 5, 2011
Americans' once-prevailing view that government should do what it can to promote traditional values in society has weakened in the past decade. Today 48% hold that view, while nearly as many, 46%, say government should not favor any particular set of values.
Plenty of Common Ground Found in Abortion Debate
"Pro-choice" and "pro-life" Americans agree on 9 of 17 policies tested
August 8, 2011
"Pro-choice" and "pro-life" Americans tend to back abortions needed to protect women's vital health and to support certain notification policies, and oppose late-term abortions. The two groups disagree most sharply about abortions in the first trimester, for financial reasons, and when the baby would be born impaired.
Common State Abortion Restrictions Spark Mixed Reviews
Most Americans favor abortion consent laws; oppose clinic funding bans, late-term abortions
July 25, 2011
Large majorities of Americans favor the broad intent of several types of abortion restriction laws that are now common in many states, but have mixed or negative reactions to others. The majority of Republicans are in favor of all seven restrictions tested.
Republicans More Unified Than Democrats on Abortion
Pro-choice view among Democrats largely linked to education and income
June 6, 2011
Roughly two-thirds of Republicans across most major gender, age, educational, and income lines describe themselves as "pro-life," while about a quarter call themselves "pro-choice." By contrast, Democrats' support for the "pro-choice" label rises sharply with education and income.
Americans Morally OK With Divorce, but Not Affairs
June 2, 2011
Gallup Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport reviews the results of Gallup's 2011 Values and Beliefs poll, which finds Americans most accepting of divorce and least morally open to extramarital affairs, across 14 issues tested.
Doctor-Assisted Suicide Is Moral Issue Dividing Americans Most
Pornography, gay relations produce biggest generational gaps
May 31, 2011
Doctor-assisted suicide is the most controversial of 17 cultural issues Gallup tested this year, with Americans divided 45% vs. 48% over its moral acceptability. Many also disagree about whether abortion and out-of-wedlock births are morally right or wrong. More than 9 in 10 say extramarital affairs are wrong.
U.S. Adults Estimate That 25% of Americans Are Gay or Lesbian
Those with lower incomes, the less educated, women, and young people give the highest estimates
May 27, 2011
U.S. adults, on average, estimate that 25% of Americans are gay or lesbian, up from an estimate of 21% to 22% in 2002. Lower-income Americans, the least educated, women, and young people give the highest estimates, and demographics appear to be more closely related to views than politics or ideology.
Fewer Americans Down on U.S. Moral Values
Percentages rating morals "poor" and saying they are worsening declined in past year
May 25, 2011
While few Americans are highly positive about the state of moral values in the country, 38% now call them "poor," down from 45% a year ago. Pessimism about the direction morals are heading in also declined. Democrats' and independents' views improved over the past year, while Republicans' were unchanged.
Related Items
Support for Legal Gay Relations Hits New High
May 25, 2011
U.S. Satisfaction With Gov't, Morality, Economy Down Since '08
January 24, 2011
In U.S., 64% Support Death Penalty in Cases of Murder
November 8, 2010
Four Moral Issues Sharply Divide Americans
May 26, 2010
Americans' Opposition to Gay Marriage Eases Slightly
May 24, 2010
