Table 2 Beliefs concerning democracy in the United States
Statement | 2022 Respondents (n= 12,947) | 2023 Respondents (n=9385) | 2024 Respondents (n=8896) | Mean Difference, * 2022-2023 | Mean Difference, * 2023-2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | |
When thinking about democracy in the United States these days, do you believe… | ||||||||||
There is a serious threat to our democracy. (1) | 9409 | 67.4 (66.3, 68.5) | 6452 | 62.3 (60.9, 63.7) | 6256 | 64.8 (63.4, 66.2) | 9385 | − 5.2 (− 6.6, − 3.8) | 8185 | 1.3 (− 0.2, 2.7) |
There may be a threat to our democracy, but it is not serious. (2) | 2640 | 23.5 (22.5, 24.5) | 2253 | 28.0 (26.8, 29.3) | 1953 | 25.9 (24.6, 27.2) | 9385 | 4.7 (3.3, 6.2) | 8185 | − 1.5 (− 3.0, 0.1) |
There is no threat to our democracy. (3) | 780 | 7.7 (7.0, 8.4) | 529 | 7.0 (6.2, 7.8) | 573 | 7.3 (6.5, 8.1) | 9385 | − 0.7 (− 1.8, 0.3) | 8185 | 0.6 (− 0.3, 1.6) |
Non-response | 118 | 1.4 (1.1, 1.7) | 151 | 2.6 (2.1, 3.1) | 114 | 2.0 (1.6, 2.5) | 9385 | 1.2 (0.7, 1.8) | 8185 | − 0.4 (− 0.9, 0.0) |
Item score† | 12,829 | 1.39 (1.38, 1.41) | 9234 | 1.43 (1.41, 1.45) | 8782 | 1.41 (1.39, 1.43) | 9194 | 0.041 (0.022, 0.061) | 8020 | − 0.007 (− 0.026, 0.012) |
How important do you think it is for the United States to remain a democracy? | ||||||||||
Not important (1) | 191 | 2.1 (1.8, 2.5) | 261 | 4.0 (3.4, 4.6) | 193 | 3.5 (2.9, 4.2) | 9385 | 1.8 (1.2, 2.5) | 8185 | − 0.7 (− 1.5, 0.0) |
Somewhat important (2) | 659 | 7.7 (7.0, 8.4) | 570 | 9.7 (8.8, 10.7) | 411 | 7.6 (6.8, 8.5) | 9385 | 2.2 (1.2, 3.3) | 8185 | − 2.1 (− 3.3, -1.0) |
Very or extremely important (3) | 12,003 | 89.0 (88.2, 89.8) | 8448 | 84.6 (83.4, 85.7) | 8208 | 87.5 (86.3, 88.5) | 9385 | − 4.6 (− 5.6, − 3.5) | 8185 | 2.9 (1.7, 4.0) |
Non-response | 94 | 1.2 (0.9, 1.4) | 106 | 1.7 (1.3, 2.2) | 84 | 1.4 (1.1, 1.9) | 9385 | 0.5 (0.0, 0.9) | 8185 | 0.0 (− 0.4, 0.3) |
Item score† | 12,853 | 2.88 (2.87, 2.89) | 9279 | 2.82 (2.80, 2.84) | 8812 | 2.85 (2.84, 2.87) | 9241 | − 0.064 (− 0.078, − 0.051) | 8071 | 0.040 (0.024, 0.055) |
Democracy is the best form of government. | ||||||||||
Do not agree (1) | 595 | 5.8 (5.2, 6.4) | 531 | 7.5 (6.7, 8.4) | 493 | 7.2 (6.4, 8.0) | 9385 | 2.0 (1.1, 2.9) | 8185 | − 0.8 (− 1.8, 0.2) |
Somewhat agree (2) | 2396 | 23.1 (22.1, 24.1) | 1765 | 24.1 (22.8, 25.3) | 1507 | 22.0 (20.7, 23.3) | 9385 | 1.1 (− 0.4, 2.5) | 8185 | − 1.7 (− 3.3, − 0.1) |
Strongly or very strongly agree (3) | 9823 | 69.5 (68.5, 70.6) | 6948 | 65.9 (64.5, 67.3) | 6775 | 68.7 (67.3, 70.1) | 9385 | − 3.9 (− 5.3, − 2.5) | 8185 | 2.5 (1.1, 4.0) |
Non-response | 133 | 1.6 (1.3, 1.9) | 141 | 2.5 (2.0, 3.0) | 121 | 2.2 (1.7, 2.7) | 9385 | 0.8 (0.3, 1.3) | 8185 | − 0.1 (− 0.5, 0.4) |
Item score† | 12,814 | 2.65 (2.63, 2.66) | 9244 | 2.60 (2.58, 2.62) | 8775 | 2.63 (2.61, 2.65) | 9191 | − 0.057 (− 0.075, − 0.039) | 8029 | 0.033 (0.014, 0.053) |
These days, American democracy only serves the interest of the wealthy and powerful. | ||||||||||
Do not agree (1) | 3976 | 26.3 (25.4, 27.2) | 2789 | 25.8 (24.6, 26.9) | 3301 | 31.8 (30.6, 33.1) | 9385 | − 1.0 (− 2.4, 0.3) | 8185 | 6.4 (5.0, 7.9) |
Somewhat agree (2) | 4499 | 36.1 (35.0, 37.2) | 3678 | 39.6 (38.2, 40.9) | 3239 | 37.3 (35.9, 38.6) | 9385 | 3.3 (1.6, 5.0) | 8185 | − 2.3 (− 4.1, − 0.5) |
Strongly or very strongly agree (3) | 4354 | 36.2 (35.1, 37.3) | 2781 | 32.2 (30.9, 33.5) | 2259 | 29.2 (27.9, 30.6) | 9385 | − 3.2 (− 4.7, -1.7) | 8185 | − 3.6 (− 5.1, − 2.0) |
Non-response | 118 | 1.4 (1.1, 1.7) | 137 | 2.4 (1.9, 3.0) | 97 | 1.7 (1.3, 2.2) | 9385 | 0.9 (0.5, 1.4) | 8185 | − 0.6 (− 1.0, − 0.1) |
Item score† | 12,829 | 2.10 (2.08, 2.12) | 9248 | 2.07 (2.04, 2.09) | 8799 | 1.97 (1.95, 2.00) | 9199 | − 0.020 (− 0.044, 0.003) | 8036 | − 0.107 (− 0.131, − 0.083) |
Having a strong leader for America is more important than having a democracy. | ||||||||||
Do not agree (1) | 7921 | 56.2 (55.1, 57.3) | 6219 | 59.6 (58.2, 61.0) | 6076 | 63.0 (61.6, 64.4) | 9385 | 3.0 (1.6, 4.4) | 8185 | 2.7 (1.2, 4.2) |
Somewhat agree (2) | 2628 | 23.0 (22.1, 24.0) | 1685 | 21.7 (20.5, 22.9) | 1403 | 18.8 (17.6, 20.0) | 9385 | − 1.5 (− 3.1, 0.0) | 8185 | − 2.8 (− 4.4, -1.2) |
Strongly or very strongly agree (3) | 2254 | 19.1 (18.2, 20.0) | 1333 | 16.1 (15.0, 17.1) | 1280 | 15.9 (14.9, 17.1) | 9385 | − 2.3 (− 3.6, -1.1) | 8185 | 0.3 (− 1.0, 1.6) |
Non-response | 144 | 1.6 (1.3, 2.0) | 148 | 2.6 (2.1, 3.2) | 137 | 2.3 (1.8, 2.8) | 9385 | 0.8 (0.3, 1.3) | 8185 | − 0.2 (− 0.7, 0.3) |
Item score† | 12,803 | 1.62 (1.60, 1.64) | 9237 | 1.55 (1.53, 1.57) | 8759 | 1.52 (1.50, 1.54) | 9182 | − 0.057 (− 0.079, − 0.035) | 8001 | − 0.024 (− 0.048, − 0.001) |
The 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, and Joe Biden is an illegitimate president. | ||||||||||
Do not agree (1) | 8442 | 66.9 (65.8, 67.9) | 6135 | 66.7 (65.4, 68.0) | 5843 | 66.7 (65.3, 68.0) | 9385 | − 1.0 (− 1.9, 0.0) | 8185 | − 0.6 (− 1.6, 0.4) |
Somewhat agree (2) | 1830 | 13.5 (12.8, 14.3) | 1364 | 14.1 (13.1, 15.1) | 1338 | 14.3 (13.4, 15.4) | 9385 | 1.0 (0.0, 2.1) | 8185 | 0.6 (− 0.5, 1.7) |
Strongly or very strongly agree (3) | 2502 | 17.9 (17.0, 18.7) | 1729 | 16.7 (15.7, 17.7) | 1580 | 17.0 (16.0, 18.1) | 9385 | − 0.9 (− 1.8, 0.0) | 8185 | 0.2 (− 0.8, 1.1) |
Non-response | 173 | 1.7 (1.4, 2.0) | 157 | 2.5 (2.0, 3.0) | 135 | 2.0 (1.6, 2.4) | 9385 | 0.9 (0.4, 1.4) | 8185 | − 0.2 (− 0.7, 0.3) |
Item score† | 12,774 | 1.50 (1.48, 1.52) | 9228 | 1.49 (1.47, 1.51) | 8761 | 1.49 (1.47, 1.52) | 9164 | 0.001 (− 0.014, 0.015) | 7995 | 0.006 (− 0.009, 0.022) |