‘People like me don’t have any say about what the government does.’
People like me have no say in government · Asked in 28 waves, 1952–2024 · 58,891 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 2008. Kept and flagged: 0 (no_answer), 9 (dk). Codebook notes: See introductory text VCF0609. GENERAL NOTE: The order in which questions VCF0609-VCF0618 appeared may have varied. Prior to 1988, response options were read to R. In 1988 and later (except 2000 telephone and 2002), response options were shown to R in the Respondent Booklet. Code 1 includes: ‘strongly agree’ and ‘agree’ from the 1966 data ‘agree strongly’ and ‘agree somewhat’ from 1988 and later data (exc. 2002). Code 2 includes: ‘strongly disagree’ and ‘disagree’ from the 1966 data; ‘disagree somewhat’ and ‘disagree strongly’ from 1988 and later data (exc. 2002). 1988 NOTE: Placement varied by form. 1996 NOTE: This question was asked in both the Pre and Post; Pre data are included here. 2008 NOTE: This question was administered to a random half sample of respondents (verion ‘C’); the remaining respondents were administered an alternative version of the question (version ‘D’). 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.
| Group | Agree | Neither agree nor disagree (1988 and later only) | Disagree | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V242201. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 4,964 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V202213. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 7,449 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V162216. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 3,648 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: effic_saystd. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 3,023 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V085151d. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 1,043 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V045202. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,066 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V025173. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,346 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study |
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.
| 63% |
| 14% |
| 23% |
| 4964 |
| ±2 |
| Lower income | 66% | 15% | 19% | 1448 | ±4 |
| Middle income | 66% | 13% | 21% | 1571 | ±4 |
| Upper income | 60% | 13% | 27% | 1484 | ±4 |
ANES 2024 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.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 1,555 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980525. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V960568. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,714 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V941038. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V926102. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,255 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900509. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880937. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 1,775 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V840312. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 2,251 |
| ANES 1982 Time Series Study Source variable: V820531. | 1982-11-02 to 1983-01-31 | face to face | 1,418 | 1,418 |
| ANES 1980 Time Series Study Source variable: V801030. | 1980-09-02 to 1981-02-07 | face to face | 1,614 | 1,408 |
| ANES 1978 Time Series Study Source variable: V780351. | 1978-11-08 to 1979-01-25 | face to face | 2,304 | 2,304 |
| ANES 1976 Time Series Study Source variable: V763815. | 1976-09-07 to 1977-01-30 | face to face | 2,248 | 1,909 |
| ANES 1974 Time Series Study Source variable: V742222. | 1974-11-06 to 1975-01-31 | face to face | 1,575 | 1,575 |
| ANES 1972 Time Series Study Source variable: V720269. | 1972-09-01 to 1973-02-13 | face to face | 2,705 | 2,702 |
| ANES 1970 Time Series Study Source variable: V700144(type 0). | 1970-11-04 to 1971-01-13 | face to face | 1,507 | 1,507 |
| ANES 1968 Time Series Study Source variable: V680517. | 1968-09-06 to 1969-01-28 | face to face | 1,557 | 1,348 |
| ANES 1966 Time Series Study Source variable: V660115. | 1966-11-08 to 1967-02-01 | face to face | 1,291 | 1,291 |
| ANES 1964 Time Series Study Source variable: V640174. | 1964-09-07 to 1965-02-01 | face to face | 1,571 | 1,570 |
| ANES 1960 Time Series Study Source variable: V600107. | 1960-09-12 to 1960-12-26 | face to face | 1,181 | 1,162 |
| ANES 1956 Time Series Study Source variable: V560108. | 1956-09-17 to 1957-01-19 | face to face | 1,762 | 1,762 |
| ANES 1952 Time Series Study Source variable: V520123. | 1952-09-15 | face to face | 1,899 | 1,790 |