Topics At A Glance: The Presidency

Most important Characteristics in a President

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Which one of these candidate qualities is most important in deciding who to support for the Republican nomination (for president in 2012)? He is a true conservative. He has strong moral character. He can defeat Barack Obama. He has the right experience.

Note: Republican primary voters
CBS News/New York Times Poll, [Mar, 2012]

Note: Republican primary voters
CBS News/New York Times Poll, [Feb, 2012]

In selecting a (2012) presidential (election) nominee for the Republican Party, which of the following is most important to you?...A candidate with the best chance to defeat Barack Obama, a candidate who comes closest to your views on issues, a candidate who has the right personal style and strong leadership qualities

Note: Registered voters who would vote in the Republican primary in their state (33% of registered voters, 27% of sample)
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jan, 2012]

Confidence in the Presidency

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Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, [Apr, 2012]

(I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one--a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little.) What about...the presidency? (Read as necessary:) How much confidence do you have in...the presidency? A great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little?

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, [Feb, 2012]

(I am going to name some institutions in this country. As far as the people running these institutions are concerned, would you say you have a great deal of confidence, only some confidence, or hardly any confidence at all in them?)...Executive branch of the federal government

Associated Press/NORC Poll, [Jul, 2011]

Divided Government or Single Party Control

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Do you think it is better for the country--to have a President who comes from the same political party that controls Congress, or do you think it is better to have a President from one political party and Congress controlled by another?

Note: Asked of Form A half sample
Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2011]

Do you think it is better for the country--to have a President who comes from the same political party that controls Congress, does it make no difference either way, or do you think it is better to have a President from one political party and Congress controlled by another?

Note: Asked of Form B half sample
Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2011]

(Now, just so everyone has the same information, I'm going to read you a brief description...The federal debt ceiling acts as a check and limit on the country's overall liabilities, including the federal deficit and other debts. When the US (United States) Treasury needs to issue debt above the ceiling in order to avoid going into bankruptcy and defaulting on its obligations, Congress needs to vote to raise the ceiling. Congress is again currently considering whether and how much to extend the debt ceiling.)...Which of the following approaches being considered in Congress to deal with the federal debt ceiling are you more likely to support? A proposal by President (Barack) Obama which would reduce the federal deficit by four trillion dollars over the next decade by cutting federal spending, increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy, and reducing the level of spending on Medicare, or a proposal by Republicans in Congress which would reduce the federal deficit by two and a half trillion dollars over the next decade by cutting federal spending and would not raise taxes on corporations or the wealthy?

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jul, 2011]

The Presidency and the Constitution

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Thinking for a moment about the way in which the president is elected in this country, which would you prefer--to amend the constitution so the candidate who receives the most total votes nationwide wins the election, or to keep the current system, in which the candidate who wins the most votes in the Electoral College wins the election?

Gallup Poll, [Oct, 2011]

The president (Barack Obama), as the Constitution's Commander-in-Chief, recently committed the US (United States) to provide support to the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) mission in Libya to protect Libyan citizens from government forces. However, the Constitution gives the power to declare war to Congress. Does the President have the constitutional authority to involve the military in Libya without Congressional approval, even if the troops are just supporting the NATO mission and are not on the ground in Libya?

Time/Abt SRBI Poll, [Jun, 2011]

(I'm going to read you some positions that someone running for President could take. For each one, please tell me whether you would be more likely to vote for a candidate for President who takes this position, less likely to vote for this candidate, or would it not make a difference to you either way?)...Favors adding an amendment to the Constitution that bans gay marriages

Note: Asked of Form A half sample
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jun, 2011]

Require Congressional Approval for Use of Troops

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(Now, just so everyone has the same information, I'm going to read you a brief description...The federal debt ceiling acts as a check and limit on the country's overall liabilities, including the federal deficit and other debts. When the US (United States) Treasury needs to issue debt above the ceiling in order to avoid going into bankruptcy and defaulting on its obligations, Congress needs to vote to raise the ceiling. Congress is again currently considering whether and how much to extend the debt ceiling.)...If the federal debt limit is not raised and the federal government is unable to meet its obligations, including payments to those on Social Security and in the military, who do you think will be more to blame--President (Barack) Obama and the Democrats in Congress or Republicans in Congress?

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jul, 2011]

Some people say that in order to continue US (United States) military action in Libya now, the President (Barack Obama) must get authorization from Congress, because of a law called the War Powers Act. Other people say the action in Libya is not really a war as described in the War Powers Act, and so the President does not need any authorization from Congress right now. Which comes closer to your opinion: regardless of whether you think the US should be involved in Libya, do you think the President should have to get Congressional authorization in order to continue the action, or don't you think the President should have to do this right now?

CBS News/New York Times Poll, [Jun, 2011]

Do you disapprove (of United States military action in Libya) mainly because--you do not think the US (United States) should be involved in military action in Libya at all or because you do not think President (Barack) Obama obtained the necessary approval from Congress for the military action?

Note: Asked of those who disapprove of US military action in Libya (46%)
Gallup Poll, [Jun, 2011]

From the Archives

Would you say George W. Bush has done anything that made you angry since he became president, or not?

Note: Asked of Form A half sample
Gallup/CNN/USA Today Poll, [Feb, 2006]

Will you tell me who the Vice-President of the United States is?

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press News Savvy Poll, [Feb, 2007]

What is your impression of the people around President Reagan in the White House? As of today, is it very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable--or haven't you heard enough about that yet to say?

%
11		Haven't heard enough
7		Very favorable
39		Somewhat favorable
25		Somewhat unfavorable
10		Very unfavorable
8		Not sure
*		Refused

Los Angeles Times Poll, [Aug, 1982]