5 facts about Americans’ views of government
The public has long been divided over the role of government, but on certain issues there is bipartisan agreement that government should play a major role.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Trust in Government
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Trust in Government
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Most Americans say it would be ‘too risky’ to give presidents, including Trump, more power
Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults (65%) say it would be “too risky” to give Trump more power to deal directly with many of the nation’s problems.
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Confidence in federal civil servants remains far lower among Republicans than Democrats
Overall, a slim majority of Americans (55%) express a great deal or fair amount of confidence in federal career employees, while 44% have little or no confidence.
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Favorable views of Supreme Court remain near historic low
Fewer than half of Americans (47%) now express a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court.
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Americans’ Views of Government’s Role: Persistent Divisions and Areas of Agreement
Most Biden supporters favor a bigger government with a strong social safety net. Trump backers generally take the opposing view.
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Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024
Public trust in government remains low, as it has for much of the 21st century. Roughly two-in-ten Americans say they trust the government in Washington to do what is right “just about always” (2%) or “most of the time” (21%).
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Most Black Americans Believe U.S. Institutions Were Designed To Hold Black People Back
Those who experienced racial discrimination are more likely to say these institutions intentionally or negligently harm Black people.
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More than 80% of Americans believe elected officials don’t care what people like them think
More than 80% of Americans believe elected officials don’t care what people like them think.
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From Businesses and Banks to Colleges and Churches: Americans’ Views of U.S. Institutions
Americans overwhelmingly see small businesses as having a positive effect on the way things are going in the country. By contrast, their views of large corporations are broadly negative. And most people – including identical shares in both parties – are critical of the impact of banks and financial institutions.
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7 facts about Americans’ views of money in politics
72% of U.S. adults say that there should be limits on the amount of money individuals and organizations can spend on political campaigns.
