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December 2007 Political Scientists Survey
Grade Congress
1. Does Congress protect its powers from presidential encroachment?
A |
2.0% |
B |
37.3% |
C |
35.3% |
D |
23.5% |
F |
2.0% |
2. Does it carry out effective oversight of the president and executive branch?
A |
14.0% |
B |
42.0% |
C |
26.0% |
D |
12.0% |
F |
6.0% |
3. Does Congress generally fulfill its national policymaking responsibilities?
A |
3.9% |
B |
23.5% |
C |
52.9% |
D |
17.6% |
F |
2.0% |
4a. Does the HOUSE allow members in the minority to play a role?
A |
2.0% |
B |
14.0% |
C |
30.0% |
D |
46.0% |
F |
8.0% |
4b. Does the SENATE allow members in the minority to play a role?
A |
42.0% |
B |
40.0% |
C |
16.0% |
D |
0.0% |
F |
2.0% |
5a. Does the HOUSE follow good process and conduct its business in a deliberate way?
A |
2.0% |
B |
38.8% |
C |
42.9% |
D |
12.2% |
F |
4.1% |
5b. Does the SENATE follow good process and conduct its business in a deliberate way?
A |
4.0% |
B |
28.0% |
C |
48.0% |
D |
18.0% |
F |
2.0% |
6a. Does the HOUSE engage in productive discussion and allow all points of view to be heard?
A |
2.0% |
B |
30.6% |
C |
36.7% |
D |
20.4% |
F |
10.2% |
6b. Does the SENATE engage in productive discussion and allow all points of view to be heard?
A |
18.0% |
B |
54.0% |
C |
22.0% |
D |
6.0% |
F |
0.0% |
7a. Does the legislative process in the HOUSE involve a proper level of compromise, consensus?
A |
2.1% |
B |
12.5% |
C |
35.4% |
D |
41.7% |
F |
8.3% |
7b. Does the legislative process in the SENATE involve a proper level of compromise, consensus?
A |
8.0% |
B |
28.0% |
C |
42.0% |
D |
20.0% |
F |
2.0% |
8a. Does the HOUSE keep excessive partisanship in check?
A |
2.0% |
B |
4.0% |
C |
26.0% |
D |
38.0% |
F |
30.0% |
8b. Does the SENATE keep excessive partisanship in check?
A |
4.0% |
B |
16.0% |
C |
38.0% |
D |
22.0% |
F |
20.0% |
9. Does Congress hold members to high standards of ethical conduct?
A |
2.0% |
B |
33.3% |
C |
31.4% |
D |
19.6% |
F |
13.7% |
10. Does Congress focus on the key issues facing the country?
A |
10.0% |
B |
42.0% |
C |
30.0% |
D |
14.0% |
F |
4.0% |
11. Does Congress consider the long–term implications of policy issues, not just short–term?
A |
2.0% |
B |
9.8% |
C |
47.1% |
D |
27.5% |
F |
13.7% |
12. Does Congress reflect our nation's diversity?
A |
6.0% |
B |
46.0% |
C |
24.0% |
D |
16.0% |
F |
8.0% |
13. Does Congress make its workings and activities open to the public?
A |
24.0% |
B |
56.0% |
C |
14.0% |
D |
4.0% |
F |
2.0% |
14. Do legislators broadly reflect the interests of their constituents?
A |
24.0% |
B |
58.0% |
C |
14.0% |
D |
4.0% |
F |
0.0% |
15. Do legislators make a good effort to educate their constituents about Congress?
A |
8.0% |
B |
18.0% |
C |
42.0% |
D |
24.0% |
F |
8.0% |
16. Do legislators make a good effort to be accessible to their constituents?
A |
54.0% |
B |
34.0% |
C |
8.0% |
D |
2.0% |
F |
2.0% |
17. Does Congress keep the role of special interests within proper bounds?
A |
4.0% |
B |
24.0% |
C |
42.0% |
D |
24.0% |
F |
6.0% |
18. Does Congress reform itself sufficiently to keep up with changing needs?
A |
4.1% |
B |
24.5% |
C |
36.7% |
D |
28.6% |
F |
6.1% |
19. Despite its faults, how well does Congress represent the American people?
A |
5.9% |
B |
45.1% |
C |
37.3% |
D |
11.8% |
F |
0.0% |
Grade US Citizens
1. Contacting their members of Congress on issues that concern them?
A |
6.1% |
B |
24.5% |
C |
32.7% |
D |
34.7% |
F |
2.0% |
2. Following what is going on in Congress on a regular basis?
A |
0.0% |
B |
2.0% |
C |
18.4% |
D |
51.0% |
F |
28.6% |
3. Voting in congressional elections?
A |
0.0% |
B |
10.0% |
C |
44.0% |
D |
46.0% |
F |
0.0% |
4. Working through groups that share their interests to influence Congress?
A |
0.0% |
B |
32.0% |
C |
48.0% |
D |
18.0% |
F |
2.0% |
5. Understanding the main features of Congress and how it works?
A |
0.0% |
B |
2.0% |
C |
10.2% |
D |
55.1% |
F |
32.7% |
6. Having a reasonable understanding of what Congress can and should do?
A |
0.0% |
B |
0.0% |
C |
22.4% |
D |
53.1% |
F |
24.5% |