Poll: “Trust in Government Remains Low”
Sep 22nd, 2008 • Posted in: Research Report“Only 26 percent are satisfied with way nation is being governed,” Gallup finds
From Gallup:
“Gallup’s annual Governance poll finds a continued deterioration in public confidence in U.S. government institutions. Just 26% of Americans say they are satisfied with the way the nation is being governed, the lowest in the eight-year history of the Governance poll and tying a 1973 Gallup reading as the lowest ever.
“The percentage of Americans satisfied with the way the nation is being governed has declined each year since 2002, when a high of 59% were satisfied.
“The low levels of satisfaction with the government measured in this year’s poll, conducted Sept. 8-11, seem to derive from highly negative evaluations of the jobs President Bush (31% approve) and Congress (18% approve) are doing….
“Another indication of Americans’ disappointment with Bush and Congress is the historically low levels of trust the public has in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.
“The poll finds trust in the executive branch, headed by the president, near the record low from the Watergate era. Just 42% of Americans say they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the executive branch, similar to last year’s 43%, but the lowest since a 40% reading in April 1974. Trust in the executive branch has been below 50% each of the last three years. That coincides with the roughly two-year trend in sub-40% job approval ratings for Bush.
“Trust in the legislative branch is only slightly better than trust in the executive branch, with 47% saying they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in Congress. But this marks a new low for Congress, as trust in the legislative branch has dropped below 50% for the first time in 15 measurements Gallup has taken since 1972.
“At 69%, Americans’ level of trust in the judicial branch of the federal government remains strong, and is virtually unchanged from where it has been each of the last four years….
“At the same time, a majority of 56% trusts the government’s ability to handle international problems. This is a rare area where public attitudes about government have actually improved….
“While no demographic or political subgroup of Americans shows a high level of satisfaction with the way the nation is being governed, Republicans (48%) are much more likely to do so than are independents (23%) or Democrats (9%)…. ”
For the full press release from Gallup, Sep. 18, click here.
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