Topics At A Glance: The Presidency

Most important Characteristics in a President

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What is the single most important reason you are supporting Barack Obama (for president in 2012)?...Better for middle class/poor, doing a good job/trying, don't like (Mitt) Romney/Republicans, shares my views/Democrat, like him/personal qualities, reproductive issues/social policy, economic policies, education/environment, immigration, health care, progress/change, other

%
8		Better for middle class/poor
9		Doing a good job/Trying
15		Don't like Romney/Republicans
16		Shares my views/Democrat
7		Like him/Personal qualities
4		Reproductive issues/Social policy
4		Economic policies
2		Education/Environment
2		Immigration
7		Health care
4		Progress/Change
12		Other
8		Refused/Not sure

Sample: National youth age 18-25
Note: Those who said they would vote for Obama (56%)
Millennial Values & Voter Engagement Survey, [Aug, 2012]

What is the single most important reason you are supporting Mitt Romney (for president in 2012)?...Economy/budget, change/move in better direction, don't like (Barack) Obama/Democrats, shares my views/Republican, like him/personal qualities, other

%
13		Economy/Budget
10		Change/Move in better direction
34		Donżt' like Obama/Democrats
21		Shares my views/Republican
5		Like him/Personal qualities
8		Other
9		Refused/Not sure

Sample: National youth age 18-25
Note: Those who said they would vote for Romney (33%)
Millennial Values & Voter Engagement Survey, [Aug, 2012]

In selecting a president, which of the following is most important to you?...A candidate who comes closest to your views on issues, a candidate who has the right personal style and strong leadership qualities

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [May, 2012]

Confidence in the Presidency

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(Now 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?)...The presidency

Gallup Poll, [Jun, 2012]

(Now I'm going to list some institutions in American society, and I'd like you to tell me how much confidence you have in each one--a great deal, quite a bit, some, very little, or none at all?)...The Presidency

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [May, 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?

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, [Apr, 2012]

Divided Government or Single Party Control

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In general, do you think that it is better for the same political party to control both the Congress and the presidency, so they can work together more closely, or do you think that it is better to have different political parties controlling the Congress and the presidency to prevent either one from going too far?

Sample: National registered voters
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Sep, 2012]

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?

Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2012]

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]

The Presidency and the Constitution

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Most Supreme Court watchers were surprised when Chief Justice John Roberts, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, sided with four liberal justices to rule the health care law Constitutional. Which do you think better describes his actions--was he purely following the Constitution or was he trying to protect his own image and the Court's non-partisan image?

Sample: National registered voters
Fox News Poll, [Jul, 2012]

President (Barack) Obama has repeatedly said in the past that he could not bypass Congress and suspend deportations on his own because quote, 'That's not how our system works. That's not how our democracy functions. That's not how our Constitution is written.' Yet now President Obama has announced the Department of Homeland Security will stop deporting illegal immigrants under age 30 who were brought to this country as children. Do you think the Obama administration violated the Constitution or did the administration find a lawful way to get around the president's Constitutional concerns?

Sample: National registered voters
Fox News Poll, [Jun, 2012]

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]

Require Congressional Approval for Use of Troops

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In December 2010 Congress approved and President (Barack) Obama signed legislation overturning the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Now some in Congress want to restore the ban on gays serving openly. Which would you prefer--restore the ban on gays serving openly in the military or continue the current policy allowing gays to serve openly in the military?

United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, [May, 2012]

As you may know, the US (United States) government has been struggling with the question of how to deal with the federal budget deficit--i.e., the amount of money the government spends that exceeds the amount it takes in through taxes. Congress and the President have agreed there should be substantial reductions in the deficit. Today we are going to explore whether or not spending on national defense--that is, spending on the military and the development of weapons--should be reduced as part of an effort to reduce the deficit, and if so, how much it should be reduced and which programs should be reduced. Some people say the national defense budget should be reduced, while others say it should remain the same, or even be increased. We are going to do our best to help you get a better understanding of the federal deficit and the national defense budget by giving you some information. The deficit that Congress is struggling to deal with is projected to be $672 billion for next year, 2013. This does not include deficit spending related to Medicare, as this is dealt with in a separate budget with a separate revenue source. If Congress wants to reduce the $672 billion deficit, it has two options:it can raise taxes, it can reduce spending or both. We are going to focus on spending in the part of the budget that Congress has to approve every year, known as the discretionary budget. A key question we will ask you to consider is:whether and how much the deficit should be dealt with by reducing defense spending, as opposed to increasing taxes or reducing non-defense spending. But first, we want to show you five different ways of viewing the size of the national defense budget. In each case we would like to know if, from this perspective, defense spending is more or less than you expected, or about the same as you expected....First here is the discretionary budget for 2012. Discretionary spending areas, billions of dollars = base defense budget + Afghanistan/Iraq = total $677. Viewing it this way, is the amount of defense spending for 2012, much more than you expected, somewhat more than you expected, about what you expected, somewhat less than you expected, or much less than you expected?

PIPA/Knowledge Networks Poll, [Apr, 2012]

(As you may know, the US (United States) government has been struggling with the question of how to deal with the federal budget deficit--i.e., the amount of money the government spends that exceeds the amount it takes in through taxes. Congress and the President have agreed there should be substantial reductions in the deficit. Today we are going to explore whether or not spending on national defense--that is, spending on the military and the development of weapons--should be reduced as part of an effort to reduce the deficit, and if so, how much it should be reduced and which programs should be reduced. Some people say the national defense budget should be reduced, while others say it should remain the same, or even be increased. We are going to do our best to help you get a better understanding of the federal deficit and the national defense budget by giving you some information. The deficit that Congress is struggling to deal with is projected to be $672 billion for next year, 2013. This does not include deficit spending related to Medicare, as this is dealt with in a separate budget with a separate revenue source. If Congress wants to reduce the $672 billion deficit, it has two options:it can raise taxes, it can reduce spending or both. We are going to focus on spending in the part of the budget that Congress has to approve every year, known as the discretionary budget. A key question we will ask you to consider is:whether and how much the deficit should be dealt with by reducing defense spending, as opposed to increasing taxes or reducing non-defense spending. But first, we want to show you five different ways of viewing the size of the national defense budget. In each case we would like to know if, from this perspective, defense spending is more or less than you expected, or about the same as you expected.)...The second way of viewing defense spending is comparing it to the two other largest areas of Federal spending--Social Security and Medicare. These two programs are not part of the discretionary budget and are funded through payroll taxes. Defense and entitlement programs, billions of dollars = defense spending $677, Social Security $781, Medicare $499. Viewing it this way, is the amount of defense spending for 2012, much more than you expected, somewhat more than you expected, about what you expected, somewhat less than you expected, or much less than you expected?

PIPA/Knowledge Networks Poll, [Apr, 2012]

From the Archives

(I'm going to read you the names of some political organizations and leaders in the news today. Please tell me whether you have generally favorable or generally unfavorable impressions of that person or organization, or whether you are not familiar enough with that person or organization to say one way or the other.)... Al Gore

Time/CNN/Yankelovich Partners Poll, [Dec, 1996]

If the House does vote to impeach (Bill) Clinton and send the case to the Senate for trial, what would you have your Senators do: Vote in favor of convicting or vote against convicting?

Gallup Poll, [Nov, 1998]

(As you may know, Donald Rumsfeld is stepping down as Secretary of Defense. President (George W.) Bush has said he refused to accept Rumsfeld's resignation earlier in the administration. As I read some possible reasons, please tell me if you think each is a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason Bush refused to accept Rumsfeld's resignation before this week.) What about this possible reason...Bush is stubborn and does not like to admit mistakes? Is this a major reason, a minor reason, or not a reason why Bush refused to accept Rumsfeld's resignation before this week?

Princeton Survey Research Associates International/Newsweek Poll, [Nov, 2006]