Survey: Who In Government Has Influence Over What?

In the United States, there are several different branches of the federal government, including the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, and various government agencies. There are also state and local governments. Some of these branches and levels of government may have more influence than others. Others may have a lot of influence over some issues, but little influence over others. We're interested in people's opinions about how much influence the different branches and levels of the government actually have.

I am going to start by asking you how much influence the following parts of government have over the performance of the economy: the President, Congress, state and local government, and the Federal Reserve.

1. How much influence does the President have over whether the economy gets stronger or weaker during the next two years?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

2. How much influence does Congress have over whether the economy gets stronger or weaker during the next two years?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

3. How much influence does state and local government have over whether the economy gets stronger or weaker during the next two years?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

4. How much influence does the Federal Reserve have over whether the economy gets stronger or weaker during the next two years?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

Now, I am going to ask you how much influence the following parts of government have over how well the public schools in the United States educate their students: Congress, the President, and state and local government.

5. How much influence does Congress have over how well public schools educate their students?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

6. How much influence does the President have over how well public schools educate their students?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

7. How much influence do state and local government have over how well public schools educate their students?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

Next, I am going to ask you how much influence the following parts of government have over how money in the federal budget is spent: the Federal Reserve, Congress, and the President.

8. How much influence does the Federal Reserve have over how money in the federal budget is spent?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

9. How much influence does Congress have over how money in the federal budget is spent?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

10. How much influence does the President have over how money in the federal budget is spent?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

Now, I am going to ask you how much influence the following parts of government have over whether the U.S. will succeed or fail in the Iraq war: Congress and and the President.

11. How much influence does Congress have over whether the U.S. will succeed or fail in the Iraq war?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

12. How much influence does the President have over whether the U.S. will succeed or fail in the Iraq war?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

Now, I am going to ask you how much influence the following parts of government have over crime rates: the President, the Supreme Court, state and local government, and Congress.

13. How much influence does the President have over crime rates?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

14. How much influence does the Supreme Court have over crime rates?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

15. How much influence does state and local government have over crime rates?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

16. How much influence does Congress have over crime rates?

	A lot of influence.
	Some influence.
	Little or no influence.
	Don't know.

Now I am just going to ask you a few more questions.

17. Who controls the appointment of federal judges?

	The president alone.
	The president, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
	The Senate.
	The House of Representatives.
	Don't know.

18. Which part of the federal government has the power to decide whether laws violate the Constitution?

	The courts.
	The Senate.
	The president.
	The House of Representatives.
	Don't know.

19. Which part of the federal government has the most influence over interest rates?

	The president alone.
	Congress.
	The Federal Reserve.
	The Treasury Department.
	Don't know.

20. Which level of government has the most power to take away or protect property rights in land, such as homes, apartments buildings, and office buildings?

	Federal.
	State and local.
	Don't know.

21. Currently, which level of government has the most power to deal with natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes?

	Federal.
	State and local.
	Don't know.

22. How interested are you in politics?

	Very interested.
	Somewhat interested.
	Slightly interested.
	Not interested at all.

23. How concerned are you or someone else in your household will lose their job in the next year?

	Very concerned.
	Somewhat concerned.
	Not too concerned.
	Not at all concerned.

24. Over the next five years, do you expect you family's income to grow faster or slower than the cost of living, or do you think it will grow at about the same pace?

	Grow faster.
	Grow slower.
	About the same pace.

25. Which of the following best describes how you decide who to vote for:

	Reelect those who have performed well and vote against those who have done poorly.
	Vote for who you think will do best in the future, even if their past performance has been disappointing.
	Vote for whichever candidates are closer to your political views.
	Vote for the candidates of the party you belong to.
	Don't know.