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People have (1958,1964: I’d like to talk about some of the) different ideas about the government in Washington. These ideas don’t refer to Democrats or Republicans in particular, but just to government in general. We want to see how you feel about these ideas. (1996 and later: For example:) How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right – just about always, most of the time (not 1966: or) only some of the time (1996: or almost never)?
Trust in federal government to do what is right · Asked in 24 waves, 1958–2012 · 40,139 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Dropped only in years where the codebook names a design split (alternate form, half sample, abbreviated or web instrument): 0 in 1984, 2008. NA code treated as not asked where it exceeds 10% of a year's answers (an unlabeled split or filter): 0 in 1986. Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 9 (dk). Codebook notes: GENERAL NOTE: The order in which questions VCF0604-VCF0608 appeared may have varied. 1988 NOTE: Placement varied by form. 2008 NOTE: This question was administered to a random half sample of respondents (verion ‘OLD’); the remaining respondents were administered an alternative version of the question (version ‘NEW’). A half-sample of respondents were administered this question with response options in reverse order. 2012 NOTE: This question was asked of a random 1/2 sample of respondents (the remaining 1/2 sample was asked a different version of the question).
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: trustgov_trustgstd. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 3,023 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V085147a. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 1,042 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V045197. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,066 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V025174. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,346 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study Source variable: V001534. | 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 | mixed | 1,807 | 1,555 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980528. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V961251. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,534 |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| Group | None of the time/never (VOLUNTEERED); almost never (1966 only) | Some of the time | Most of the time | Just about always | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 2% | 76% | 20% | 2% | 3023 | ±2 | |
| Northeast | 2% | 76% | 19% | 3% | 477 | ±6 | |
| Midwest | 1% | 80% | 17% | 2% | 652 | ±5 | |
| South | 2% | 76% | 20% | 2% | 1187 | ±4 | |
| West | 2% | 73% | 22% | 3% | 707 | ±5 |
ANES 2012 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 |
| mixed |
| 1,795 |
| 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V926120. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,255 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900504. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880955. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 1,775 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860548. | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 1,081 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V841064. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 1,921 |
| ANES 1982 Time Series Study Source variable: V820529. | 1982-11-02 to 1983-01-31 | face to face | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V800402. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,610 |
| ANES 1978 Time Series Study Source variable: V780347. | 1978-11-08 to 1979-01-25 | face to face | 2,304 | 2,304 |
| ANES 1976 Time Series Study Source variable: V763163. | 1976-09-07 to 1977-01-30 | face to face | 2,248 | 2,247 |
| ANES 1974 Time Series Study Source variable: V742230. | 1974-11-06 to 1975-01-31 | face to face | 1,575 | 1,575 |
| ANES 1972 Time Series Study Source variable: V720571. | 1972-09-01 to 1973-02-13 | face to face | 2,705 | 2,285 |
| ANES 1970 Time Series Study Source variable: V700151(type 0). | 1970-11-04 to 1971-01-13 | face to face | 1,507 | 1,507 |
| ANES 1968 Time Series Study Source variable: V680504. | 1968-09-06 to 1969-01-28 | face to face | 1,557 | 1,348 |
| ANES 1966 Time Series Study Source variable: V660173. | 1966-11-08 to 1967-02-01 | face to face | 1,291 | 1,291 |
| ANES 1964 Time Series Study Source variable: V640403. | 1964-09-07 to 1965-02-01 | face to face | 1,571 | 1,450 |
| ANES 1958 Time Series Study Source variable: V580157. | 1958-11-05 to 1958-12-25 | face to face | 1,450 | 1,450 |