The Pew Research Center’s Political Typology: Views of Government
A majority (55%) of Americans say the government is almost always wasteful and inefficient; half prefer a smaller government that provides fewer services.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
A majority (55%) of Americans say the government is almost always wasteful and inefficient; half prefer a smaller government that provides fewer services.
The American public is closely divided on the question of whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry legally, with 46% opposing same-sex marriage and 45% supporting it. Those divisions extend to groups within the Republican and Democratic coalitions.
Americans are now almost evenly divided on the question of legalizing same-sex marriage. Opposition to same-sex marriage has fallen from 65% in 1996 to 46% in 2011 while 45% favor legalizing it.
Voters on average place themselves just right of center politically; this puts them slightly closer to the Republican Party than the Democratic Party.
Nearly six in ten Americans (58%) say we should pay less attention to problems overseas and instead concentrate on problems here at home, while 33% say it is best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs.
President Obama’s overall job approval rating has declined in recent months, but there is also an intensity gap that has emerged, with Americans more likely to say they very strongly disapprove of Obama’s performance than to say they very strongly approve.
Nearly half of Americans (47%) say that Wall Street hurts the U.S. economy more than it helps, while 38% say it helps more than hurts; 15% offer no opinion.
The number of Americans who say they are basically content with the federal government has reached its lowest level since the question was first asked in 1997.
Nearly half of non-profit news sites were ideological in nature.
Half the public says the Supreme Court should base rulings on what the Constitution means now, while 45% say it should be understood as originally written.
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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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