The Public, the Political System and American Democracy
At a time of growing stress on democracy around the world, Americans generally agree on democratic ideals and values that are important for the United States.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
Publications
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Proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution seldom go anywhere
The vast majority of proposed amendments die quiet, little-mourned deaths in committees and subcommittees.
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Near-record number of House members not seeking re-election in 2018
More members of the U.S. House of Representatives are choosing not to seek re-election than at any time in the past quarter-century.
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Despite talk of ‘trade war’ with China, highest U.S. tariffs are on imports from other Asian countries
The highest U.S. tariffs aren’t on imports from its biggest trading partners, but on products from several developing South Asian nations whose exports are heavily weighted toward clothing, footwear and other products that the U.S. generally taxes highly.
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Why do people belong to a party? Negative views of the opposing party are a major factor
Sizable majorities of Democrats and Republicans cite the other party’s harmful policies as a major reason they belong to their party.
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U.S. tariffs vary a lot, but the highest duties tend to be on imported clothing
Average tariff rates, while useful for comparison, can obscure the wide range of rates imposed on different classes of imports and on specific products.
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Putin remains overwhelmingly unpopular in the United States
Just 16% of Americans see Vladimir Putin favorably, with more Republicans than Democrats holding that view.
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Positive Views of Economy Surge, Driven by Major Shifts Among Republicans
Americans’ views of national economic conditions continue to improve, with the share saying the economy is in good or excellent condition now at its highest point in nearly two decades. The overall rise in positive assessments seen over the last year is driven by the shifting views of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. Nearly three-quarters of […]
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U.S. tariffs are among the lowest in the world – and in the nation’s history
The Trump administration’s plans to impose $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports, as well as tariffs recently placed on imported steel and aluminum and on imports of solar panels and washing machines, mark a distinct break from decades of U.S. trade policy, which long has generally favored lower tariffs and fewer restrictions on the movement of goods and services across international borders.
