Topics At A Glance: The Supreme Court

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(As you know, our federal government is made up of three branches: an Executive branch, headed by the President: a Judicial branch, headed by the US (United States) Supreme Court: and a Legislative branch, made up of the US Senate and House of Representatives.) Let me ask you how much trust and confidence you have at this time in...the Judicial branch, headed by the US Supreme Court--a great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?

Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2012]

(Now I'm going to read you a list of institutions in this country. For each one, please tell me if you are extremely confident, very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all in the people who are running each institution.)...The US (United States) Supreme Court...Would you say you are extremely confident, very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all in the people who are running...the US Supreme Court?

%
7		Extremely confident
17		Very confident
49		Somewhat confident
15		Not too confident
9		Not confident at all
3		Don't know
*		Refused

Associated Press/National Constitution Center/GfK Poll, [Aug, 2012]

(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 US (United States) Supreme Court

Gallup Poll, [Jun, 2012]

Rating the Performance of the Supreme Court

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Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?

Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2012]

(Now, I'd like to rate your feelings toward some people and organizations, with one hundred meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and fifty meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from zero to one hundred, the higher the number the more favorable your feelings are toward that person or organization. If you have no opinion or never heard of that person or organization, please say so.)...The Supreme Court...Give...the Supreme Court a rating, with 100 meaning a very warm, favorable feeling, zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling, and 50 meaning not particularly warm or cold. (If Don't know, ask:) Would you say you are unable to give an opinion of...the Supreme Court, or have you never heard of...the Supreme Court?

Sample: National likely voters
Democracy Corps/Women's Voices. Women Vote Poll, [Jul, 2012]

(Now I'm going to read you the names of several public figures and groups and I'd like you to rate you feelings toward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. If you don't know the name, please just say so.)...The Supreme Court

Sample: National registered voters
Note: Asked of Form A half sample
NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jul, 2012]

Power and Influence

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At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on government leaders and institutions such as the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court, or losing its influence?

Note: Asked of Form 2 half sample
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press/Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life 2010 Religion & Public Life Survey, [Jul, 2010]

All in all, do you think this (that religion is increasing its influence on government leaders and institutions such as the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court) is a good thing or a bad thing?

Note: Asked of those in Form 2 half sample who said religion is increasing its influence on government leaders and institutions such as the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court (23% of Form 2 half sample)
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press/Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life 2010 Religion & Public Life Survey, [Jul, 2010]

All in all, do you think this (that religion is losing its influence on government leaders and institutions such as the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court) is a good thing or a bad thing?

Note: Asked of those in Form 2 half sample who said religion is losing its influence on government leaders and institutions such as the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court (62% of Form 2 half sample)
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press/Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life 2010 Religion & Public Life Survey, [Jul, 2010]

Is the Supreme Court too Conservative/Liberal?

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In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?

Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2012]

(How big of a role do you think each of the following played in the (United States) Supreme Court's decision in the case challenging parts of the (2010) health care law?) What about...whether the Justices' themselves hold liberal or conservative views? Do you think this played a major role, a minor role, or no role at all in the Justices' decision on this case?

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, [Jun, 2012]

In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?

CNN/ORC International Poll, [Jun, 2012]

Appointment of Justices

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Who do you want to nominate the next Supreme Court Justice?...Barack Obama or Mitt Romney

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

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]

(How big of a role do you think each of the following played in the (United States) Supreme Court's decision in the case challenging parts of the (2010) health care law?) What about...whether a Justice was appointed by a Republican or Democratic president? Do you think this played a major role, a minor role, or no role at all in the Justices' decision on this case?

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, [Jun, 2012]

Supreme Court and Abortion

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In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion?

Sample: National registered voters
Quinnipiac University Poll, [Feb, 2012]

(Now let me read you brief descriptions of other decisions by the Supreme Court. After each one I read please, tell me if you agree or disagree with this decision.)...The Supreme Court decided that states have the right to ban partial birth abortion, even in cases where the mother's health is in danger....(If Agree/Disagree, ask:) (Is that strongly or somewhat?)

Sample: National likely voters
MoveOn.org Supreme Court Survey, [Apr, 2010]

In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe versus Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion?

Sample: National registered voters
Quinnipiac University Poll, [Apr, 2010]

Supreme Court and the Schools

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As Dean of Harvard Law School, Elena Kagan denied the military full access to recruit students to join the armed services because of the military's 'don't ask don't tell' policy regarding gays in the military. Does her decision make you more likely or less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm her to the Supreme Court?

Sample: National likely voters
Resurgent Republic Survey, [Jun, 2010]

(Thinking about Elena Kagan's background, does each of the following make you more likely to support her nomination (to the Supreme Court), does it make no difference to you, or does it make you less likely to support her nomination?)...When she was a law school dean, she barred military recruiters from campus because the US (United States) did not allow openly gay people to serve in the military.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll, [May, 2010]

(Now I have some more short questions such as you might see on a television game show. If you don't know the answer just tell me and we'll move to the next question.)...According to rulings by the US (United States) Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to...lead a class in prayer, or not?

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Religious Knowledge Survey, [May, 2010]

Nominating Women/Blacks/Hispanics/Minorities

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Thinking about Elena Kagan's background, does each of the following make you more likely to support her nomination (to the Supreme Court), does it make no difference to you, or does it make you less likely to support her nomination?...She is a woman.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll, [May, 2010]

For each item I name, please tell me whether to you personally it would be a factor in favor of a Supreme Court nominee, a factor against a Supreme Court nominee, or not a factor one way or the other. What if the nominee is...a woman? (If In favor/Against, ask:) Is that a strong factor or not a strong factor?

Note: Asked of half sample
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, [Apr, 2010]

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens recently announced he will resign at the end of his term, which will give Barack Obama his second chance to nominate a Supreme Court Justice. I'm going to read a list of qualities that might be considered when selecting a new justice. For each one, please tell me whether you think it should be the single most important factor, should be a factor, but not the most important, shouldn't matter, or should be a disqualifying factor....The nominee being a woman

Sample: National registered voters
FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll, [Apr, 2010]

From the Archives

(Still looking at that card, assuming the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) does have that kind of information on file about you, I'd like to ask you who you think should have access to it.) Which of those things, if any, should be released to an opposing lawyer in a suit against you?

%
34		B. Date of birth
27		H. Any prison records
20		A. Fingerprints
26		F. Any arrests resulting in convictions
18		M. Employment records
25		C. Race
17		O. Any history of psychiatric care or treatment
15		N. Health records
14		L. Any drinking history
10		Q. Any membership in associations, organizations
15		D. Religion
15		G. Any arrests not resulting in convictions
14		E. Any traffic violations
10		J. Credit rating
9		I. Tax returns
11		P. Opinions of neighbors as to moral character
8		K. Sexual history
6		R. Any magazines and other publications subscribed to
46		None
9		Don't know

Roper Report 74-3, [Feb, 1974]

(I have a few questions about Timothy McVeigh, one of the men on trial for bombing the federal building in Oklahoma City two years ago.) Do you think that Timothy McVeigh will be able to get a fair trial, or don't you think so?

Time/CNN/Yankelovich Partners Poll, [Apr, 1997]

Should Congress pass the President's plan to enlarge the Supreme Court?

Gallup Poll (AIPO), [Jun, 1937]