Americans’ Views of Government: Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role
Broad public support for the federal government having a ‘major role’ in many different areas
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Broad public support for the federal government having a ‘major role’ in many different areas
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- Americans’ Views of Government: Decades of Distrust, Enduring Support for Its Role
- Low public trust in federal government has persisted for nearly two decades
- Majorities of Americans say federal government does too little to address issues affecting several groups, including lower- and middle-income people, retirees
- Prior to leak of Supreme Court’s draft abortion opinion, Democrats expressed greater concern than Republicans that people’s rights could vary by state
- Sharp partisan divide on whether it is government’s job ‘to protect people from themselves’
- More confidence in career govt. workers than in political appointees
- Partisan trust in government shifts along with control of the White House, but remains relatively low within both parties
- Most continue to express frustration – rather than anger or contentment – about the federal government
- About three-in-ten Democrats are ‘basically content’ with federal government, down from 43% in April 2021
- Younger Democrats express less trust in the federal government than their elders
- Many say federal government unfairly benefits some people over others
- Republicans more likely than Democrats to say federal government interferes too much in people’s lives
- Republicans particularly critical of federal government’s responsiveness
- Overwhelming share of Republicans, most Democrats say the government is not careful with taxpayer money
- Many hold the view that the federal government faces more difficult challenges today than in the past
- Similar shares of Republicans and Democrats say people aren’t willing to pay for what they want from government
- More Democrats than Republicans say the government gets too little credit
- Little difference in views of dealing with federal agencies among those who have, have not contacted one recently
- Small majorities say the government does at least a fair amount to protect or restrict personal freedoms
- Among Democrats, wide demographic differences in views of government’s impact on people’s personal freedoms; smaller differences among Republicans
- Republicans now more likely to say government withholds information
- Younger Democrats more likely than older Democrats to say government intentionally withholds information
- Public rates government positively for its handling of natural disasters, terrorism, food and medicine safety, and workplace standards
- Democrats are more likely than Republicans to view govt. performance positively, except on health care and the environment
- Democrats rate the federal government more positively than in 2020; Republicans turn much more critical, especially on government’s handling of economy
- Majorities of Americans say govt. should have ‘major role’ in a number of areas
- Large gaps between the public’s views of the government’s role and its performance
- Wide partisan gaps in views of whether government should play ‘major role’ on poverty, health care, the environment
- Since 2020, sharp declines in shares of Republicans saying government should have ‘major role’ in alleviating poverty, addressing public health
- About half of U.S. adults name at least one issue the federal government is handling poorly
- Many of those who give examples of what the federal government does well point to national security
- U.S. adults name a wide range of issues when asked what their state government is doing well
- About one-in-ten cite infrastructure, education as areas where their state government is doing a bad job
- Views of state, local governments slightly less favorable than in 2019
- Partisans’ views of state governments are closely related to which party controls the state government
- Partisans differ over concerns about the relative role of state and federal governments
- Half of Americans express concern both about states not working with federal govt. and about federal govt. doing too much that should be done at the state level
- Democrats more concerned than Republicans that the rights Americans have may differ from state to state
- Among Democrats, older adults more concerned that rights and protections a person has may very by state
- A small majority of the public says govt. should do more to solve problems
- Younger adults more likely than older people to say that government should do more to solve problems
- Majority of adults say federal government is doing too much for higher-income people, too little for those with lower incomes
- Democrats more likely than Republicans to say government is doing too little to address issues affecting children, parents
- Democrats far more likely than Republicans to say government is doing too little on issues affecting lower-income people
- Republicans more likely than Democrats to say the government is doing ‘too much’ on issues affecting city dwellers
- Black adults more likely to say govt. aid to poor does more good than harm
- Younger, lower-income Reps. have more positive views of govt. aid to the poor
- Republicans more likely than Democrats to say government policies should support religious values
- Confidence in career civil servants has declined in both parties since 2018
- After 2020 election, partisans flip in confidence in presidential appointees
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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