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Next, I am going to ask you to choose which of two statements I read comes closer to your own opinion. You might agree to some extent with both, but we want to know which one is closer to your (2000: own) views: ONE, the less government the better; or TWO, there are more things that government should be doing
Less government better or more things government should do · Asked in 9 waves, 1990–2024 · 29,541 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): 9 in 1990. Kept and flagged: 8 (dk), 9 (no_answer). Codebook notes: GENERAL NOTE: The order in which items VCF9131-VCF9134 were administered may have varied by study. Interviewer instruction: [IF NECESSARY, PROBE ‘Which Closer’ ONCE EACH QUESTION] 2000 NOTE: A code for ‘both, depends’ was not used. 2004 NOTE: A code for ‘both, depends’ was not used.
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 | Less government the better | More things government should be doing | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 48% | 52% |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V242246. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 4,964 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V202253. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 7,449 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V162185. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 3,648 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: govrole_lessmore. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,510 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,102 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V045152. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,066 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study Source variable: V001420. | 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 | mixed | 1,807 | 1,555 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V925729. |
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.
| 4964 |
| ±2 |
| Democrats | 47% | 53% | 1772 | ±3 |
| Independents (incl. leaners) | 50% | 50% | 1609 | ±4 |
| Republicans | 49% | 51% | 1553 | ±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.
| 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 |
| mixed |
| 2,485 |
| 2,255 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900333. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 992 |