Loading…
Some people say that it is only fair that in a society like ours, people holding public office should have roughly the same racial or ethnic background as the population as a whole. So, for example, if 30pct of the people were Hispanic, then 30pct of the public officials should be Hispanic as well. Others say that in choosing people for public office they should be considered purely on the basis of ability without regard to their ethnic or racial background. Let me ask you about these ideas in several different areas. A. What about people in Congress? Should they have the same racial or ethnic background as their constituents, or should they be considered purely on the basis of their ability without regard to their racial or ethnic background?
Public officials should reflect ethnic makeup of population · Asked in 1 wave, 1994 · 1,474 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
| Group | Consider ethnic background | Ability, not background | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents | 9% | 91% | 1474 | ±3 | |
| Democrats | 12% | 88% | 532 | ±5 | |
| Independents (incl. leaners) | 7% | 93% | 500 | ±5 | |
| Republicans |
General Social Survey 1994 · US adults 18+ living in households (English, and Spanish since 2006). 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.
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Social Survey 1994 | 1994-01-04 to 1994-06-29 | face to face | 2,992 | 1,474 |
| 5% |
| 95% |
| 392 |
| ±6 |