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JULY 9, 2010
NEW YORK WASHINGTON DENVER SEATTLE LOS ANGELES SAN FRANCISCO AUSTIN LONDON HONG KONG BEIJING DUBAI
PEN N , SC H O EN & BER L AN D ASSO C IAT ES, L L C .
METHODOLOGY
Between June 18 and June 22, 2010, PSB conducted 1000 online interviews with GP Americans. Between June 30 and July 5, PSB conducted an additional 500 online interviews with GP Americans to gain insight on supplemental questions.
The following audiences are shown throughout this report:
Gender
Male (M) Female (F)
Region
Northeast (NE) Midwest (MW) South (S) West (W)
Political Affiliation
Democrat (Strong or weak) (D) Republican (Strong or weak) (R) Independent (I)
Income
Less than $75k annual household income (<$75k) More than $75k annual household income (>$75k)
The margin of error is +/-3.1% for the first fielding, +/-4.4 for the re-field.
CONFIDENTIAL
PEN N , SC H O EN & BER L AN D ASSO C IAT ES, L L C .
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This presentation outlines Americas attitudes towards the following:
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
The American people are solidly behind the basic principles of the Constitution
Are deeply frustrated with its current implementation And want changes that give the people more power
3
Americans say that the Constitution is a timeless document and should be changed minimally. Most say the Constitution is still effective today, more than 200 years after it was written, but are split as to whether the Constitution should be interpreted broadly or literally.
The Constitution
60
54
32
30
Dont know
42
14
43
The U.S. Constitution should be more broadly interpreted to take into account the changes of modern society
Gender All The U.S. Constitution should be interpreted as literally as possible The U.S. Constitution should be more broadly interpreted to take into account the changes of modern society Dont know
M F NE
Region
MW S W
Political Affiliation
D R I
Income
<$75k >$75k
42 43 14
48 40 12
37 46 17
34 48 19
44 39 17
45 43 12
43 44 13
24 65 11
69 23 8
41 42 17
45 40 15
36 52 12
6
MOST AMERICANS SAY THAT THE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES WORKS WELL
Across all subgroups, a majority of Americans support the system of checks and balances among the branches of government and say it is effective in preventing any single branch from having too much power.
Which of the following is closest to your view?
64
Checks and balances works well (because it
prevents any one branch from having too much power )
19
ONLY ONE QUARTER OF AMERICANS SAY THE PRESS HAS TOO MUCH FREEDOM
Do you think there is too much or too little freedom of the press?
The majority of Americans would like to see the Constitution protect more rights notably expanding equality and privacy rights.
Americans are split as to whether the Constitution protects all citizens equally, and question extending citizens rights to corporations, criminals, and terrorists. The majority of Americans believes that terrorists should be treated differently than other criminals.
AMERICANS SAY FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES
You will now see the rights that are currently protected by the Constitution. Using your mouse, please arrange the individual rights from right to left in terms of which is most important.
Freedom of assembly
0 Least
important right
10
61
10
11
Right to equality regardless of gender Right to equality Right to privacy Right not to be enslaved Right to own property Right to an education Right to equality regardless of sexual orientation Right to an attorney Right to security of person Right not to incriminate yourself Right to social securities Right not to be tortured Right to health care Right to get married Right to employment Right to paid vacation time
PEN N , SC H O EN & BER L AN D ASSO C IAT ES, L L C .
70 69 68 65 59 56 55 55 51 51 49 47 47 43 41 22
12
AMERICANS ARE SPLIT OVER WHETHER THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS EVERYONE EQUALLY
Men and Republicans are more likely to say that the Constitution protects everyone, while women and Democrats are more likely to say that it protects some more than others.
Which of the following is closest to your view?
44
47
Gender All The U.S. Constitution protects everyone equally The U.S. Constitution protects some people more than others Dont know
M F NE
Region
MW S W
Political Affiliation
D R I
Income
<$75k >$75k
47 44 9
59 32 8
36 55 9
35 54 11
47 43 9
46 46 9
59 34 7
38 54 8
69 21 10
43 52 6
43 47 10
59 35 5
13
44%
39%
14
MORE THAN HALF SEE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE POLICE COULD VIOLATE CIVIL LIBERTIES TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY
There are circumstances under which the police should be allowed to violate civil liberties to protect national security.
Dont know
56
13
31
There are NO circumstances under which the police should be allowed to violate civil liberties to protect national security.
Gender All There are circumstances under which the police should be allowed to violate civil liberties in order to protect national security. There are no circumstances under which the police should be allowed to violate civil liberties in order to protect national security. Dont know
M F NE
Region
MW S W
Political Affiliation
D R I
Income
<$75k >$75k
56 31 13
59 32 9
52 31 17
58 30 12
62 21 16
54 33 13
50 37 13
54 35 11
61 24 16
56 33 11
54 31 15
61 32 7
15
Corporations
41
Criminals
32
Terrorists
14
51
64
80
Agree Disagree
8 32 60
16
By 2 to 1, Americans agree that the system works best when the Executive and Legislative branches are controlled by different parties, and the majority of Americans would like to see more bipartisanship (58%).
PEN N , SC H O EN & BER L AN D ASSO C IAT ES, L L C .
17
ONLY 25% OF AMERICANS SATISFIED WITH THE WAY GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS TODAY
How satisfied are you with the way the federal government functions today?
25%
71%
18
MAJORITY SAY THAT GOVERNMENT TODAY DOES NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE FRAMERS INTENDED
Do you think that the U.S. government today is working better than, worse than, or as well as the framers of the constitution intended?
10 14
As well as intended
68
Dont know
19
The government works best when the Presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party its easier to get things done.
Dont know
27
23
50
The government works best when the Presidency and Congress are controlled by different parties otherwise one group gets too much power
20
17 15
11
The right amount Too little Too much Don't know
58
21
54 16
They should all be equal
12
22
Dont know
14
17 14
55
23
State Representation
Americans are open to granting equal representation to the District of Columbia and to granting states with larger populations MORE representation in the U.S. Senate.
24
Americans are open to extending term lengths, but will not change age requirements or impose a mandatory retirement age.
74 51
Maintain the current system
42
31
26
11
22
14 38 50 60 63 83 71
66
53
40 14 16
23
35
45 80 79
Open to Changing
Impose a mandatory retirement age for justices*
69
66 51
23
26
34
15
Elected
34
51
Region
MW S W
Political Affiliation
D R I
Income
<$75k >$75k
42 41 17
60 27 13
44 33 24
46 36 18
59 32 9
50 36 14
55 38 7
54 32 14
45 36 18
55 28 17
41 50 8
Open to Changing
States with a larger pop. Give 4 Senate seats to big states, 3 to mediumshould have more representation in the U.S. sized states and 2 to small states Senate
49
40
30
30
Maintain the current system
50
56
29
49
Strongly favor Somewhat favor Dont know Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
22 24 9 16 25
41
Gender All Total Favor Strongly favor Somewhat favor Total Oppose Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Dont know
M F NE
Region
MW S W
Political Affiliation
D R I
Income
<$75k >$75k
49 22 27 41 16 25 9
49 24 25 48 17 31 2
50 21 29 35 15 20 15
54 33 21 35 15 20 11
55 31 24 39 12 27 6
46 22 24 44 22 22 10
45 6 39 45 12 33 9
58 22 36 35 15 20 7
47 22 25 42 12 30 10
47 24 23 48 20 28 6
54 23 31 39 18 21 8
40 22 18 50 12 38 11
30
Mandatory retirement age for the President (51%) DC should have representation (49%)
Mandatory retirement age for justices (69%)* Limit justices term in office (66%)*
Supreme Court Justices should be elected (51%) Do away with the filibuster (53%)*
1 2 3 4
Are deeply frustrated with its current implementation And want changes that give the people more power
PEN N , SC H O EN & BER L AN D ASSO C IAT ES, L L C .
32