Topics At A Glance: The Supreme Court

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(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
54		Somewhat confident
10		Not too confident
10		Not confident at all
1		Don't know
*		Refused

Associated Press/National Constitution Center/GfK Poll, [Aug, 2011]

(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, 2011]

As far as people in charge of running...the US (United States) Supreme Court are concerned, would you say you have a great deal of confidence, only some confidence, or hardly any confidence at all in them?

Harris Poll, [Apr, 2011]

Rating the Performance of the Supreme Court

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What if you heard that...a case has been brought before the Supreme Court arguing that this requirement to have health insurance is unconstitutional? Would you still have a favorable view of that requirement (requiring nearly all Americans to have health insurance under the 2010 health reform law), or would you now have an unfavorable view of that requirement?

Note: Asked of those who have a favorable opinion of requiring nearly all Americans to have health insurance by 2014 or else pay a fine (33%)
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, [Dec, 2011]

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

Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2011]

And what about the US (United States) Supreme Court? In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?

Time/Abt SRBI Poll, [Jun, 2011]

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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(The next several questions are about some people and things that have been in the news. Please answer as best you can. If you don't know the answer to the question, just move on to the next.)...The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is John Roberts. Is he generally considered a liberal, moderate, or conservative?

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Knowledge Survey, [Sep, 2011]

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

Gallup Poll, [Sep, 2011]

Would you say that Supreme Court decisions over the past few years have been too conservative, too liberal, or about right?

Time/Abt SRBI Poll, [Jun, 2011]

Appointment of Justices

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President (Barack) Obama has already had the opportunity to fill two of the nine seats on the US (United States) Supreme Court because of retirements. Four justices are currently over 70 years old. Would you rather they retire while President Obama is in office so he can nominate more justices, or would you rather they wait until his successor takes office and not give President Obama that opportunity?

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

As you may know, Barack Obama recently nominated Elena Kagan to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Elena Kagan's serving as a justice on the Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about her to say?

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, [Jun, 2010]

As you may know, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is retiring, and President (Barack) Obama has nominated Elena Kagan to replace him. Is your opinion of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about Elena Kagan yet to have an opinion? (If Favorable, ask:) Is that strongly or somewhat favorable? (If Unfavorable, ask:) Is that strongly or somewhat unfavorable?

%
10		Strongly favorable
11		Somewhat favorable
6		Somewhat unfavorable
11		Strongly unfavorable
63		Haven't heard enough about her
*		Don't know
*		Refused

Associated Press/Gfk Poll, [Jun, 2010]

Supreme Court and Abortion

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(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]

Do you think picking justices to sit on the Supreme Court is mainly about the issue of abortion, or is it mainly about issues other than abortion?

Sample: National registered voters
FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll, [Jul, 2009]

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

There is a possibility that one or two justices of the United States Supreme Court may retire during George W. Bush's term in office. Do you think Bush's nominees to the US Supreme Court will be conservative, moderate, or liberal?

Los Angeles Times Poll, [Mar, 2001]

Do you think that the Supreme Court represents the interests of people like you, or not?

Note: See note
Time/CNN/Yankelovich Clancy Shulman Poll, [Jul, 1992]

(Now I'm going to read a list of specific items from the proposal you just heard (under this proposal, judicial candidates would no longer raise money from private sources. Instead, each candidate would receive a set amount of money from a publicly financed election fund. Spending by candidates would be limited to the amount they receive from the fund.). For each one, please tell me whether you support or oppose that specific item of the proposal.)...Private donors can no longer contribute to judicial campaigns. (If support/oppose, ask:) (Do you support/oppose that proposal strongly or somewhat?)

Sample: National registered voters
Note: Asked of Form B half sample
Justice At Stake Survey, [Oct, 2001]