Loading…
How much government should do, government too powerful, government vs. markets, regulation in general, government's responsibility for jobs, living standards, and services.
| Question | Source | Years | Waves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether government should do more or less A. Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven't you made up your mind on this? | GSS | 1975–2024 | 26 |
| Government guarantee of jobs and living standard scale Some people feel that the government in Washington should see to it that every person has a job and a good standard of living. (1972- 1978,1996-LATER: Suppose these people are at one end of a scale, at point 1). Others think the government should just let each person get ahead on his/their own. (1972-1978,1996: Suppose these people are at the other end, at point 7. And, of course, some other people have opinions somewhere in between, at pints 2,3,4,5 or 6.) Where would you place yourself on this scale, or haven’t you thought much about this? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) | ANES | 1972–2024 | 21 |
| Feelings about communism as a form of government Thinking about all the different kinds of governments in the world today, which of these statements comes closest to how you feel about Communism as a form of government? CODE ONE. | GSS | 1973–1994 | 15 |
| President's position on guaranteed jobs and living standard Some people feel that the government in Washington should see to it that every person has a job and a good standard of living. Others think the government should just let each person ahead on his own. And, of course, other people have opinions somewhere in between. Where would you place [president] on this scale? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) | ANES | 1972–2012 | 14 |
| Republican presidential candidate on guaranteed jobs and living Where would you place [the Republican Presidential Candidate] on this scale? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) |
| ANES |
| 1972–2024 |
| 13 |
| Democratic presidential candidate on guaranteed jobs and living Where would you place [the Democratic Presidential Candidate] on this scale? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) | ANES | 1972–2024 | 13 |
| Federal government too powerful (IF YES:) What is your feeling? Do you think the government is too powerful or do you think the government is not getting too strong? | ANES | 1964–2000 | 12 |
| Less government better or more things government should do TWO, there are more things that government should be doing | ANES | 1990–2024 | 9 |
| Government responsibility to provide jobs for all A. Provide a job for everyone who wants one. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 8 |
| Why government has grown: overreach or bigger problems TWO, government has become bigger because the problems we face have become bigger | ANES | 1990–2016 | 7 |
| Strong government or free market to handle the economy TWO, the free market can handle these problems without government being involved | ANES | 1990–2016 | 7 |
| Most desirable national goal, first choice For a nation, it is not always possible to obtain everything one might wish. On this page (1988,1992: on page [PAGE] of the booklet) (1972, 1976: on this card), several different goals are listed. If you had to choose among them, which one would seem most desirable to you? (RESPONDENT BOOKLET OR SHOW CARD SHOWN TO R) | ANES | 1972–1992 | 6 |
| Most desirable national goal, second choice (IF FIRST CHOICE GIVEN: ) Which one {goal for our nation} would be your second choice? | ANES | 1972–1992 | 6 |
| Second highest priority for America B. And which one do you think should be America's next highest priority, the second most important thing it should do? America should… | GSS | 1993–2021 | 5 |
| Highest priority for America A. Looking at the list below, please check a box next to the one thing you think should be America's highest priority, the most important thing it should do. America should… | GSS | 1993–2021 | 5 |
| Less government regulation of business E. Less government regulation of business. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 5 |
| Government support for new products and technology F. Support for industry to develop new products and technology. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 5 |
| Government support for declining industries to protect jobs G. Supporting declining industries to protect jobs. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 5 |
| Government responsibility to help industry grow E. Provide industry with the help it needs to grow. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 5 |
| Government financing of projects to create jobs D. Government financing of projects to create new jobs. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 5 |
| Government responsibility to keep prices under control B. Keep prices under control. | GSS | 1985–2016 | 5 |
| Federal government's current stance on guaranteed jobs and living Where would you place what the Federal Government is doing at the present time? (7-POINT SCALE SHOWN TO R) | ANES | 1980–1992 | 5 |
| Importance of adequate living standard for all citizens A. That all citizens have an adequate standard of living | GSS | 2004–2024 | 3 |
| Government guarantee of jobs and living standard Some people feel the government in Washington should see to it that every person has A JOB AND A GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING. Others think the government should just LET EACH PERSON GET AHEAD ON THEIR OWN. Which is closer to the way you feel or haven’t you thought much about this? | ANES | 1964–2002 | 3 |
| Government classifies too many documents as secret Given the world situation, the government protects too many documents by classifying them as SECRET and TOP SECRET. Do you . . . | GSS | 1994–1998 | 3 |
| Government control of wages by legislation A. Control of wages by legislation. | GSS | 1985–1996 | 3 |
| Government control of prices by legislation B. Control of prices by legislation. | GSS | 1985–1996 | 3 |
| Power of the federal government And what about the federal government, does it have too much power or too little power? | GSS | 1985–1996 | 3 |
| Which party favors guaranteed jobs and living standards Which party do you think is more likely to favor the government seeing to it that each person has a job and a good standard of living (1964 only: the Democrats, the Republicans, or wouldn’t there be any difference between them on this)? | ANES | 1960–1968 | 3 |
| Government should guarantee jobs for everyone who wants one (Same introduction as in VCF0805 [CARD WITH RESPONSES SHOWN]). ‘The government in Washington ought to see to it that everybody who wants to work can find a job.’ | ANES | 1956–1960 | 3 |
| Who should primarily provide care for old people Care for old people? (Should it be?) | GSS | 2016–2018 | 2 |
| Government secrecy on diplomatic initiatives A. Diplomatic initiatives | GSS | 1996–1998 | 2 |
| Government secrecy on the intelligence budget D. The US intelligence budget | GSS | 1996–1998 | 2 |
| Government role in the steel industry C. The steel industry. | GSS | 1985–1990 | 2 |
| Government role in banking and insurance D. Banking and insurance. | GSS | 1985–1990 | 2 |
| Government role in electric power A. Electric power. | GSS | 1985–1990 | 2 |
| Government-financed job creation projects The government should finance projects to create new jobs, even if it might require a tax increase | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| Government support for declining industries to protect jobs The government should support declining industries to protect jobs, even if it might require a tax increase to pay for it | GSS | 2021 | 1 |
| Cutting two regulations for each new regulation President Trump has issued many orders over the first two years of his presidency. For each of the following tell us whether you support or oppose the order in principle. [Requires that with each new regulation enacted, two must be cut. Any new costs created by new regulations must be matched with eliminations.] | CES | 2018 | 1 |
| Government role in helping disaster victims A. Do you think it should or should not be the government's responsibility to help individuals affected by natural disasters? | GSS | 2006 | 1 |
| Government role in rebuilding after natural disasters B. Do you think it should or should not be the government's responsibility to help rebuild communities affected by natural disasters? | GSS | 2006 | 1 |
| Government responsibility to provide childcare Provide childcare for everyone who wants it? | GSS | 2002 | 1 |
| Freedom as being left alone A. Freedom is being left alone to do what I want. | GSS | 2000 | 1 |
| Federal assistance to arts organizations If arts organizations -- such as art museums, dance, operas, theater groups and symphony orchestras -- need financial assistance to operate, Do you feel that the federal government should provide assistance or not? | GSS | 1998 | 1 |
| Whether banks should be run privately or by government C. Banks | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Whether hospitals should be run privately or by government B. Hospitals | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Whether electric power should be run privately or by government A. Electric Power | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Government should require businesses to give consumer information B. It is the responsibility of government to require businesses to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices. | GSS | 1996 | 1 |
| Federal government role in family life is too large F. The role of the federal government in family life today is too large. | GSS | 1990 | 1 |
| Government should provide a job for everyone D. The government should provide a job for everyone who wants one. | GSS | 1987 | 1 |
| Law requiring seat belt use in cars A. The wearing of seat belts in cars should be required by law. | GSS | 1985 | 1 |
| Prohibit smoking in public places by law B. Smoking in public places should be prohibited by law. | GSS | 1985 | 1 |
| Government role in local mass transportation B. Local mass transportation. | GSS | 1985 | 1 |
| Government role in the automobile industry E. The automobile industry. | GSS | 1985 | 1 |
| Government should ensure jobs and stable prices C. The government must see to it that everyone has a job and that prices are stable, even if the rights of businessmen have to be restricted. | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Government responsibility to meet everyone's needs D. It is the responsibility of government to meet everyone's needs, even in case of sickness, poverty, unemployment, and old age. | GSS | 1984 | 1 |
| Feelings about communism ten years ago What about ten years ago, that is in 1972, which of these statements came closest to how you felt about Communism as a form of government? CODE ONE. | GSS | 1982 | 1 |