USConstitution.net 2003 Survey Results - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net
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USConstitution.net 2003 Survey Results

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This site has conducted an unscientific survey on various issues since July of 1998. The results, while interesting in most cases, are to be taken with a grain of salt - the results can easily be skewed by an individual or group of individuals; the sample is, by nature, not representative (because it consists only of Web users who visit my site and bother to view the survey page and submit an opinion).

This page includes results from 2003. For results from other years, please go to the Main Results Page.


Question 66, December 2003 Better late than never, our annual access survey - how did you come to this site today?

Response Count Percentage
AltaVista 3 1.08
AOL Search 11 3.94
Ask Jeeves 15 5.38
Bookmark 20 7.17
CNN 4 1.43
College Syllabus 4 1.43
EducationPlanet 2 0.72
Email link 6 2.15
Google 108 38.71
The High Road 1 0.36
High School website 4 1.43
MSN Search 9 3.23
Other Link 37 13.26
Other Search Engine 21 7.53
PresidentsUSA.com 1 0.36
Usenet article 14 5.02
WashingtonPost.com 5 1.79
Yahoo! 14 5.02
Total 279 100.00

Question 65, November 2003 Even as we wage the peace in Iraq, casualties mount. The does not bode well for the President's approval rating, which goes down as each new death in Iraq is reported. Has the casualty count in Iraq affected your likelihood of voting for the President a year from now?

Response Count Percentage
No, I still plan to vote for President Bush in November 2004. 328 46.66
No, I never planned to vote for President Bush in November 2004. 297 42.25
Yes, I have changed my mind and though I planned to vote for President Bush in November 2004, I am now looking for a better candidate. 78 11.10
Total 703 100.00

Question 64, October 2003 The Free State Project intends to convince 20,000 libertarians to move to New Hampshire, the goal being the acquisition of an electoral majority. With such a majority, they intend to enact rules and laws the espouse libertarian principles, such as repeal of gambling laws, smoking restrictions, and seat belt laws. Some residents are alarmed by the news. What are your thoughts?

Response Count Percentage
If they win a majority in the legislature, their agenda should prevail - that's democracy. 119 45.25
They will probably find that even 20,000 people is not enough to win an entire state - at best, they can become the minority party. 89 33.84
They are no better than the carpet baggers of old, and current residents should use all their political might to resist them. 55 20.91
Total 263 100.00

Question 63, September 2003 In Alabama and Texas, there are disputes currently underway regarding the display of the Ten Commandments on public grounds or in public buildings. How do you feel about it?

Response Count Percentage
The Ten Commandments are the backbone of our legal system, and to give historical perspective, every court building should have them on display. 410 51.90
It should be a local issue of whether to display the Ten Commandments, or any other religious item, on public grounds. People are too uptight about the issue. 153 19.36
It is probably a violation of the 1st Amendment, but it is not worth the time or effort to fight it. 23 2.91
The display of any religious item in a public building is offensive to the Constitution and must be fought. 204 25.82
Total 790 100.00

Question 62, August 2003 In Texas, there is a legislative mutiny under way. To prevent a quorum and their forcible return, several Democratic lawmakers have fled to Oklahoma, in order to prevent a vote on a redistricting plan. Generally speaking, should quorum rules allow a body to adjust for such missing legislators, allowing a quorum to be met in their absence?

Response Count Percentage
The Texas lawmakers are just using the rules as a tool, and nothing should change. 161 37.79
Quorum rules are important, but so is getting the work done - if a quorum cannot be met after a time limit, a new quorum should be automatically established. 185 43.43
A quorum should not be held up for any length of time for any missing legislator. 80 18.78
Total 426 100.00

Question 61, July 2003 Per tradition, the Secretary of Homeland Defense should be last in line in the presidential line of succession. However, members of the House and Senate feel the position is too important to be last, and hope to buck tradition and place the office much further up the line, after the Attorney General. Is this of any concern?

Response Count Percentage
The line of succession is too important to leave to tradition - the most important secretaries should be first in the list. 29 10.47
Though the whole line does not need to be rethought, the placement of the Secretary of Homeland Security above some of the other secretaries seems pudent. 70 25.27
The Secretary of Homeland Security should be last in line, just as has been done for a half a century. 178 64.26
Total 277 100.00

Question 60, June 2003 The Green Party has made it known that it may end up backing the Democrat in the 2004 Presidential Election. In 2000, the Reform Party's candidate made a dismal showing. What are the prospects for "third parties" in the future?

Response Count Percentage
Third parties will make significant gains in 2004. 19 10.27
The time is just not yet right for a third party - but within 10 years, I envision a third-party President. 45 24.32
Third parties have never done well, and it will be a long time before they are a viable political force. 73 39.46
Third parties are a joke in American politics, and have no chance of ever having an effect on an election. 48 25.95
Total 185 100.00

Question 59, May 2003 Winning a war does not mean winning an election. Just ask George Bush, Sr. How will the U.S. victory in Iraq affect the current President Bush's reelection chances?

Response Count Percentage
The victory in Iraq virtually guarantees victory in November, 2003. 54 31.95
The memory of the electorate is short - the victory in Iraq will have no effect on the elections. 60 35.50
The President's actions in Iraq will hurt his chances to win. 55 32.54
Total 169 100.00

Question 58, April 2003 Though some might consider it too late to ask, the time is actually ripe for a constitutional challenge to the war in Iraq. If such a challenge is made, how do you think it would turn out?

Response Count Percentage
A federal court would refuse to hear the case. 88 30.34
A federal court would find for the government; the Supreme Court would refuse to hear the case. 69 23.79
A federal court would rule against the government; the Supreme Court would refuse to hear the case. 24 8.28
The Supreme Court would hear the case and rule for the government. 56 19.31
The Supreme Court would hear the case and rule against the government. 53 18.28
Total 290 100.00

Question 57, March 2003 Should the U.S. invade Iraq, most predict the following war to be short. Presuming the U.S. is successful in all of its aims, Iraq will be rid of its despotic government and eventually be governed by a more democratic and inclusive regime. Undoubtedly, the U.S. will play a role in post-war Iraq. How long do you think the U.S. will have to maintain a significant presence in Iraq?

Response Count Percentage
Less than a year. 44 14.42
Less than two years. 60 19.67
Less than five years. 58 19.02
Less than ten years. 42 13.77
Ten years or more. 101 33.11
Total 204 100.00

Question 56, February 2003 According to the 1981 Presidential Records Act, Presidents can restrict release of their records to the public for up to 12 years after the end of their term. Former Presidents Reagan and Bush both forced their records into secrecy for as long as possible, but President Clinton is allowing his records to be released now, except for personal records and those with issues of national security. Should Clinton's acts set a precedent for future Presidents?

Response Count Percentage
Future former presidents should follow Clinton's lead and release their papers as soon as possible. 162 79.41
Future former presidents should again restrict release of their papers for as long as possible. 42 20.59
Total 204 100.00

Question 55, January 2003 There is lots in store for us in the United States, politically speaking. Possible war, Supreme Court decisions, shake-ups in Congressional leadership. The Republican dominance in the Congress and Presidency. The 2004 presidential elections will start to build up steam. Will William Rehnquist retire? Which branch of government do you predict will garner the most headlines in 2003?

Response Count Percentage
The Legislative 23 14.02
The Executive 69 42.07
The Judiciary 13 7.93
None of these - the war will dominate 59 35.98
Total 164 100.00


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