December 2011 Political Scientists Survey
Grade Congress
1. Does Congress protect its powers from presidential encroachment?
|
A |
5.1% |
|
B |
15.4% |
|
C |
51.3% |
|
D |
10.3% |
|
F |
17.9% |
2a. Does the HOUSE carry out effective oversight of the president and executive branch?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
12.8% |
|
C |
56.4% |
|
D |
15.4% |
|
F |
15.4% |
2b. Does the SENATE carry out effective oversight of the president and executive branch?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
12.8% |
|
C |
56.4% |
|
D |
20.5% |
|
F |
7.7% |
3. Does Congress generally fulfill its national policymaking responsibilities?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
2.6% |
|
C |
17.9% |
|
D |
48.7% |
|
F |
30.8% |
4a. Does the HOUSE allow members in the minority to play a role?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
0.0% |
|
C |
23.1% |
|
D |
41.0% |
|
F |
35.9% |
4b. Does the SENATE allow members in the minority to play a role?
|
A |
32.4% |
|
B |
43.2% |
|
C |
16.2% |
|
D |
2.7% |
|
F |
5.4% |
5a. Does the HOUSE follow good process in conducting its business?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
17.9% |
|
C |
33.3% |
|
D |
23.1% |
|
F |
25.6% |
5b. Does the SENATE follow good process in conducting its business?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
7.7% |
|
C |
23.1% |
|
D |
43.6% |
|
F |
25.6% |
6a. How well is the HOUSE able to handle the balance between allowing careful deliberation while also being able to act?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
13.2% |
|
C |
23.7% |
|
D |
34.2% |
|
F |
28.9% |
6b. How well is the SENATE able to handle the balance between allowing careful deliberation while also being able to act?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
5.3% |
|
C |
23.7% |
|
D |
42.1% |
|
F |
28.9% |
7a. Does the HOUSE engage in productive discussion?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
2.6% |
|
C |
23.1% |
|
D |
38.5% |
|
F |
35.9% |
7b. Does the SENATE engage in productive discussion?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
7.7% |
|
C |
46.2% |
|
D |
28.2% |
|
F |
17.9% |
8a. Does the HOUSE allow multiple points of view on an issue to be heard?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
12.8% |
|
C |
33.3% |
|
D |
30.8% |
|
F |
20.5% |
8b. Does the SENATE allow multiple points of view on an issue to be heard?
|
A |
28.2% |
|
B |
51.3% |
|
C |
15.4% |
|
D |
5.1% |
|
F |
0.0% |
9a. Does the legislative process in the HOUSE involve a proper level of compromise, consensus?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
5.3% |
|
C |
2.6% |
|
D |
42.1% |
|
F |
50.0% |
9b. Does the legislative process in the SENATE involve a proper level of compromise, consensus?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
13.2% |
|
C |
44.7% |
|
D |
23.7% |
|
F |
15.8% |
10a. Does the HOUSE keep excessive partisanship in check?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
0.0% |
|
C |
5.1% |
|
D |
23.1% |
|
F |
71.8% |
10b. Does the SENATE keep excessive partisanship in check?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
8.1% |
|
C |
16.2% |
|
D |
37.8% |
|
F |
37.8% |
11a. Is the MAJORITY leadership in the HOUSE effective?
|
A |
8.1% |
|
B |
24.3% |
|
C |
29.7% |
|
D |
18.9% |
|
F |
18.9% |
11b. Is the MINORITY leadership in the HOUSE effective?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
17.9% |
|
C |
59.0% |
|
D |
17.9% |
|
F |
5.1% |
11c. Is the MAJORITY leadership in the SENATE effective?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
43.6% |
|
C |
43.6% |
|
D |
7.7% |
|
F |
2.6% |
11d. Is the MINORITY leadership in the SENATE effective?
|
A |
12.8% |
|
B |
35.9% |
|
C |
38.5% |
|
D |
10.3% |
|
F |
2.6% |
12. Does Congress hold members to high standards of ethical conduct?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
23.7% |
|
C |
47.4% |
|
D |
18.4% |
|
F |
7.9% |
13. Does Congress focus on the key issues facing the country?
|
A |
5.1% |
|
B |
25.6% |
|
C |
17.9% |
|
D |
41.0% |
|
F |
10.3% |
14. Do members educate themselves well on the key issues facing the country?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
24.3% |
|
C |
48.6% |
|
D |
16.2% |
|
F |
10.8% |
15. Does Congress consider the long-term implications of policy issues, not just short-term?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
5.3% |
|
C |
23.7% |
|
D |
42.1% |
|
F |
28.9% |
16. Does conflict in Congress reflect substantive differences, rather than political game-playing?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
15.4% |
|
C |
35.9% |
|
D |
33.3% |
|
F |
15.4% |
17. Does Congress exercise its proper role in the decision to go to war?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
7.7% |
|
C |
33.3% |
|
D |
38.5% |
|
F |
20.5% |
18. Does Congress exercise its proper role in determining the federal budget?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
15.8% |
|
C |
23.7% |
|
D |
44.7% |
|
F |
15.8% |
19. Does Congress exercise its proper role in setting the legislative agenda?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
25.6% |
|
C |
51.3% |
|
D |
10.3% |
|
F |
10.3% |
20. Does Congress reflect our nation's diversity?
|
A |
2.6% |
|
B |
15.8% |
|
C |
42.1% |
|
D |
23.7% |
|
F |
15.8% |
21. Does Congress make its workings and activities open to the public?
|
A |
15.4% |
|
B |
51.3% |
|
C |
30.8% |
|
D |
2.6% |
|
F |
0.0% |
22. Do legislators broadly reflect the interests of their constituents?
|
A |
15.4% |
|
B |
25.6% |
|
C |
35.9% |
|
D |
17.9% |
|
F |
5.1% |
23. Do legislators make a good effort to educate their constituents about Congress?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
15.4% |
|
C |
30.8% |
|
D |
38.5% |
|
F |
15.4% |
24. Do legislators make a good effort to be accessible to their constituents?
|
A |
33.3% |
|
B |
35.9% |
|
C |
23.1% |
|
D |
7.7% |
|
F |
0.0% |
25. Does Congress keep the role of special interests within proper bounds?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
12.8% |
|
C |
17.9% |
|
D |
48.7% |
|
F |
20.5% |
26. Does Congress reform itself sufficiently to keep up with changing needs?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
10.5% |
|
C |
31.6% |
|
D |
28.9% |
|
F |
28.9% |
27. All things considered, how well does Congress do in representing the interests of the American people?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
17.9% |
|
C |
30.8% |
|
D |
38.5% |
|
F |
12.8% |
28. Overall, how would you assess the legislative record of Congress over this past year?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
0.0% |
|
C |
12.8% |
|
D |
48.7% |
|
F |
38.5% |
29. Overall, how well do you think members of the House serve their own local constituencies?
|
A |
15.4% |
|
B |
30.8% |
|
C |
33.3% |
|
D |
20.5% |
|
F |
0.0% |
Grade US Citizens
1. Contacting their members of Congress on issues that concern them.
|
A |
5.3% |
|
B |
26.3% |
|
C |
52.6% |
|
D |
13.2% |
|
F |
2.6% |
2. Following what is going on in Congress on a regular basis.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
0.0% |
|
C |
23.1% |
|
D |
51.3% |
|
F |
25.6% |
3. Voting in congressional elections.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
5.1% |
|
C |
56.4% |
|
D |
38.5% |
|
F |
0.0% |
4. Working through groups that share their interests to influence Congress.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
18.4% |
|
C |
71.1% |
|
D |
10.5% |
|
F |
0.0% |
5. Understanding the responsibilities of citizens to get involved in their communities.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
7.7% |
|
C |
51.3% |
|
D |
35.9% |
|
F |
5.1% |
6. Understanding the main features of Congress and how it works.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
2.6% |
|
C |
10.3% |
|
D |
59.0% |
|
F |
28.2% |
7. Having a reasonable understanding of what Congress can and should do.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
2.6% |
|
C |
17.9% |
|
D |
64.1% |
|
F |
15.4% |
8. Understanding the role of compromise in Congress.
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
10.3% |
|
C |
20.5% |
|
D |
51.3% |
|
F |
17.9% |
9. Being able to get to the core facts of issues before Congress
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
5.1% |
|
C |
38.5% |
|
D |
35.9% |
|
F |
20.5% |
10. Given their time commitments, how well do citizens do with their overall level of civic involvement?
|
A |
0.0% |
|
B |
15.4% |
|
C |
46.2% |
|
D |
35.9% |
|
F |
2.6% |
