Most federal agencies viewed positively, despite frustration and anger with government
The public has long expressed a more negative opinion of “the government” than of the departments and agencies that actually carry out the work of government.
Carroll Doherty
Expertise:
Publications
Lessons from the last government shutdown
The 1995-1996 government shutdowns didn’t help the GOP’s image, but the party had lost support among the public well before they happened.
Possible chemical weapons use by Syria has influenced public support for action in past polls
Americans have consistently opposed U.S. involvement in the Syrian conflict, but have offered a somewhat different response when asked how they would respond if there is proof that President Bashar Assad’s forces attacked civilians with chemical weapons.
Both parties ’underwater’ heading into 2014 elections
Both parties currently are unpopular with the public, but as the GOP showed in 2010, a party with a low favorability rating can still score a sweeping victory in midterm elections.
The public’s predictions on immigration, gun control bills this year
There’s a pretty good chance that immigration legislation will become law this year. The prospects for enacting a gun control bill are not nearly as promising, according to the American public.
5 Facts about Republicans and immigration
The immigration bill approved by the Senate now goes to the Republican-controlled House. Here's a look at public opinion among Republicans on the issues involved.
Describing Obama, Bush in a word
Public views of Barack Obama today are very different from those of George W. Bush at about this point in his second term. Obama’s job rating is in positive territory, while Bush’s tilted negative. But a look at the one-word descriptions of the two men finds some common ground. Most notably, the word incompetent appears high on the one-word list for each.
For African Americans, discrimination is not dead
America’s struggles with race and racism are never completely out of the news. But it is hard to remember when a series of stories have given this issue such resonance, whether in the rulings of the Supreme Court on affirmative action and voting rights, a tense trial in a Florida courtroom and even the racially insensitive comments of a celebrity chef.
What’s news in 2013, so far
From leaks of NSA surveillance programs to the IRS and Benghazi controversies, Washington has been rife with revelations and high-profile investigations this year. But the public paid more attention to the debate over gun policy than any of those stories. In late January, 43% said they followed President Obama’s gun proposals very closely and 39% […]
Balancing Act: National Security and Civil Liberties in Post-9/11 Era
Since 9/11, Americans generally have valued protection from terrorism over civil liberties, yet they also have expressed concerns over government overreach and intrusions on their personal privacy.
