Most members of Congress have little direct military experience
Veterans make up a smaller share of Congress than at any time in the past five decades.
Few See Adequate Limits on NSA Surveillance Program
Overview A majority of Americans – 56% – say that federal courts fail to provide adequate limits on the telephone and internet data the government is collecting as part of its anti-terrorism efforts. An even larger percentage (70%) believes that the government uses this data for purposes other than investigating terrorism. And despite the insistence […]
Supreme Court’s Favorability Edges Below 50%
Overview The Supreme Court’s favorability rating has edged below 50% for the first time in nearly three decades of Pew Research Center polling. Currently, 48% have a favorable opinion of the court while 38% have an unfavorable opinion. In March, before the court’s end-of-term decisions on same-sex marriage and the Voting Rights Act, 52% had […]
Public Esteem for Military Still High
More than three-quarters of Americans continue to believe that members of the military contribute “a lot” to society’s well-being. By contrast, only 37% say clergy make a big contribution to society, and journalists have dropped the most in public esteem since 2009.
Public Esteem for Military Still High
More than three-quarters of U.S. adults (78%) say members of the military contribute “a lot” to society’s well-being, according to a new survey of Americans’ views on various professions. By contrast, just 37% of Americans think the clergy contribute a lot, putting religious leaders well behind teachers, medical doctors, scientists and engineers.
High Court Strikes Down DOMA but Leaves Fate of Proposition 8 Uncertain
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The high court declined to rule on Proposition 8, leaving the legal status of same-sex marriage in California unclear. Read our legal analysis of the two major decisions.
A majority say sexual assaults in the military are individual acts of misconduct, not systemic
A majority of Americans say reports of sexual assaults in the military represent individual acts of misconduct and not underlying problems with military culture.
Public Split over Impact of NSA Leak, But Most Want Snowden Prosecuted
Overview The public is divided over whether the leak of classified information about NSA phone and internet surveillance serves the public interest. But a majority says that former government contractor Edward Snowden should be criminally prosecuted. The new national survey, conducted June 12-16 by the Pew Research Center and USA TODAY among 1,512 adults, finds […]
Sexual Assault in the Military Widely Seen as Important Issue, But No Agreement on Solution
Overview A substantial majority of Americans (81%) view sexual assault in the military as an extremely or very important issue. But the public does not believe the problem of sexual assault is a bigger problem in the military than outside it: Just 11% say it is more of a problem inside the military, 23% say […]
Despite the doubts about the post-9/11 wars, veterans proud of their service
Although veterans had mixed feelings about whether the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were worth fighting, 96% of them felt proud of their service.
