Government

Americans’ ratings of the Supreme Court are now as negative as – and more politically polarized than – at any point in more than three decades of polling. And nearly two-thirds of Democrats (64%) now say the Supreme Court has too much power, almost three times the share who said this in August 2020 (23%).

The current Senate has managed to clear the 60-vote hurdle to avoid a filibuster on several of its main legislative achievements.

At least 110 representatives and senators in the current 117th Congress have publicly stated or otherwise confirmed that they own a gun.

While the economy remains the dominant issue in this fall’s midterm elections, the issue of abortion has increased markedly in importance. More voters continue to view their midterm vote as an expression of opposition to Joe Biden than support for him. But across both parties, more voters now say Biden is not much of a factor in their vote.

Asked what more the government should do to support parents and children, Americans often mention forms of social or direct financial support.

Joe Biden’s political standing is at the lowest point of his presidency. Yet Biden is hardly the only focal point of the public’s political discontent: Americans express unfavorable views of both major parties and a range of leading Republican and Democratic political figures, including Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump.

Opinion on the legality of abortion has changed little since before the court's decision, with 62% now saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Here are key findings from our research on the relationship between religion and government in the U.S. and Americans' views on the issue.

When Congress convened in 2021, 72% of House members and 65% of senators were new since the start of the 111th Congress in 2009.

65% say most political candidates run for office “to serve their own personal interests.”