Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Politics

  • short reads
    Lengthy Supreme Court vacancies are rare now, but weren't always

    Long Supreme Court vacancies used to be more common

    If Senate Republicans stick with their declared intention to not consider anyone President Obama might nominate to replace Antonin Scalia, his seat on the Supreme Court likely would remain vacant for a year or more. That would be the longest vacancy on the court for nearly five decades, but by no means the longest ever in U.S. history. In fact, for much of the 19th century it was not uncommon for Supreme Court seats to be unoccupied for months – or, in a few cases, years – at a time.

  • short reads
    Democratic states more likely to support stricter environmental regulations

    Public support for environmental regulations varies by state

    When it comes to potential trade-offs between the environment and the economy, most Americans say stricter environmental regulations are worth the cost, while fewer say stricter environmental regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.

  • short reads
    The political preferences of U.S. religious groups

    U.S. religious groups and their political leanings

    Mormons are the most heavily Republican-leaning religious group in the U.S., while a pair of major historically black Protestant denominations are two of the most reliably Democratic groups.

  • report

    Majority of Public Wants Senate to Act on Obama’s Court Nominee

    Survey Report In the high-stakes battle over replacing Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, a majority of Americans (56%) say the Senate should hold hearings and vote on President Obama’s choice to fill the vacancy. About four-in-ten (38%) say the Senate should not hold hearings until the next president selects a court nominee. Most […]

  • short reads
    Presidential nominating contests shift earlier, then rebound a bit

    Near-record number of primaries this year, but not quite as early

    All but five states will hold at least one primary this year, cementing the primary’s dominance over the older caucus system in the presidential nominating process. But compared to 2008, the last time both parties had open nomination contests, the voting started later this year and is a bit more spread out.