General Politics

48% Say Justice System Is Fair To Most Americans

Overall perceptions of the fairness of the U.S. justice system remain relatively unchanged from last year, but slightly more adults now believe the system is fair to poor and minority Americans.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Adults think the justice system is generally fair to most Americans, according to a new national Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. Thirty one percent (31%) don’t regard the system as fair to most Americans, while another 21% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on May 19-20, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

15% Say It’s More Honorable To Work for Government Than For Private Company

Voters give low marks to government service compared to working in the private sector.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is more honorable to work for the government than it is to work for a private company. Sixty-one percent (61%) disagree and say it is not more honorable. But a sizable 24% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

57% Say American Society is Fair and Decent

Most Americans still view U.S. society as fair and decent, but they're more critical than they've been in a while.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters consider American society generally fair and decent, down from 60% a month ago and the first time that finding has fallen into the 50s since December 2008. Thirty percent (30%) say American society is generally unfair and discriminatory, the most negative assessment since September. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

51% Think U.S. Should Withdraw All Troops From Europe

Mitt Romney is criticizing President Obama for making major cuts in defense spending and accuses him of undercutting America’s NATO alliance with its European allies. But voters continue to question the current level of U.S. defense spending, and most favor withdrawing all U.S. troops from Europe.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe the United States should remove all its troops from Western Europe and let the Europeans defend themselves. Only 29% disagree, but another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

52% Say States Should Be Allowed to Overrule Feds on Drug Approval

Most voters think states should be able to overrule the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and allow sale of a drug the federal agency has rejected.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that if a state government feels a drug has benefits in some circumstances, it should be able to approve sale of that drug within its borders even though the FDA already has denied approval. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

44% Support Building More U.S. Nuclear Power Plants

Support for building more nuclear plants in the United States is still below where it was prior to last year's nuclear plant disaster in Japan. But voters are less enthusiastic about eliminating existing plants in this country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now think more nuclear power plants should be built in the United States. Thirty-eight percent (38%) are opposed to building new plants, while 18% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

57% Think Spending Increases Should Be Limited to Population Growth and Inflation

Most voters continue to disagree with the pace of federal spending and favor a law that limits how much it can grow in any given year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of Likely U.S. Voters recognize that government spending in America has gone up over the past 10 years. Just nine percent (9%) think spending has gone down, and another nine percent (9%) believe it has stayed about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 14-15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

75% Favor Use of No-Fly List at Airports

The American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a group of Muslim Americans is challenging the constitutionality of one of the government’s chief anti-terrorism tools, the no-fly list at airports.  Voters strongly support use of a no-fly list, but most also recognize that it may violate the rights of some Americans.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the government’s use of a no-fly list to block suspected terrorists from flying. Only nine percent (9%) are opposed to the use of a no-fly list. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

63% See Conflict Between Islam and the West

Nearly two-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (63%) believe there is a conflict in the world today between Western civilization and Islamic nations, but most also think the United States should leave the Islamic world alone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 18% of voters feel there is not a global conflict now between the West and Islamic nations. Another 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on May 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New High: 68% Would Vote To Replace Entire Congress

Here’s some bad news for Washington: More voters than ever would vote to replace the entire Congress rather than keep it.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that, if given the choice, 68% of Likely Voters would vote to get rid of the entire Congress rather than keep them all on the job. Just 12% say they would vote to keep the entire Congress. Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters U.S. Voters was conducted on May 8-9, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

65% Angry At Government’s Current Policies

Two-out-of-three voters are fed up with the current policies of the federal government, and a majority feels neither Republicans nor Democrats know what is best for the people. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat angry at the current policies of the federal government, including 37% who are Very Angry.  Thirty-one percent (31%) don’t share that anger, with 10% who are Not At All Angry.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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39% Think Most Muslims See U.S. As An Enemy, 35% Disagree

While Americans are growing more optimistic about the war on terror against radical Islamists, voters are evenly divided as to whether or not most Muslims around the globe view our nation as an enemy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that most Muslims view the United States as an enemy. Nearly as many (35%) disagree, but 27% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on May 4-5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

69% Favor Use of Military Overseas Only When U.S. National Security is Threatened

With pressure growing for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, America’s longest-running war, voters continue to believe strongly in more limited use of the U.S. military overseas.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 69% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should not commit forces overseas unless it is vital to U.S. national security. Sixteen percent (16%) disagree with the more restrained use of U.S. military force. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 30-May 1, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

56% of Women See Presidential Candidates’ Wives As Important to Their Vote

Voters are narrowly divided over how important a presidential candidate’s wife is when it comes to how they will vote this November . However, women voters think it's more important than men. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters say their perception of the candidate’s wife is at least somewhat important in terms of how they will vote for president this year. Fifty percent (50%) regard their view of the candidate’s wife as unimportant. These findings includes 17% who think it’s Very Important and another 17% who rate it Not At All Important. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 28-29, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

68% Say Obama’s Liberal, 60% View Romney as Conservative

Voters see the 2012 presidential candidates as offering a choice between the political left and right.  But they view President Obama as more committed to the political left than Mitt Romney is to the right.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the president is a least somewhat liberal, while 60% view the likely Republican nominee as at least somewhat conservative, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But that includes 43% who say Obama is Very Liberal, compared to just 18% who regard Romney as Very Conservative. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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This national survey of 1,000 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on April 26-27, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

43% Are Conservative on Money Issues, 13% Liberal

Voters continue to maintain more conservative views when it comes to money issues, but they are as divided as ever on social views.

Forty-three percent (43%) of Likely U.S. Voters consider themselves conservative when it comes to issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Nearly as many (40%) say they are fiscal moderates, but just 13% call themselves fiscally liberal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 22-23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

77% Say Most Politicians Don’t Keep Campaign Promises

The bad news is that voters still overwhelmingly don’t trust what most politicians say. The good news is that they’re a bit more convinced that it’s not the politicians’ fault.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters think most politicians keep their campaign promises. Seventy-seven percent (77%) say most don’t keep the promises they make on the campaign trail. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 22-23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

87% Think Media More Interested in Candidate Controversy Than in the Issues

Most recently, it’s been anti-Obama comments by aging rock star Ted Nugent and anti-Romney remarks by an Obama political adviser on women’s issues, but candidates are routinely bombarded with media questions when someone who supports them steps out of line. However, voters overwhelmingly see those stories as media hype and believe it’s the candidate that really counts.

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Likely U.S. Voters think in terms of how they will vote that what a candidate says is more important than what their supporters say. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 11% put more emphasis on what a candidate’s supporters say. Ten percent (10%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 22-23, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

50% Think More Government Regulation Means Less Fairness

For some, government is the answer to economic inequality in this country, but for most, it’s not.

Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters, in fact, think society would become less fair if the government got more involved in regulating the economy. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 22% believe society would become more fair if there was greater government regulation. Twenty-one percent (21%) feel things would remain about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

66% Think Most Government Contracts Go To Those With Political Connections

Most voters see crony capitalism at work in the awarding of government contracts.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe most government contracts are given to the company with the most political connections rather than the one that can provide the best service for the best price. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% disagree and think most government contracts go instead to the company offering the best service for the best price. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on April 20-21, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.