A Majority of Americans Hold Negative Views on US Democracy, Reveals an AP-NORC Poll

A recent survey from The Big Big News-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that roughly one in ten US adults view the country’s democracy favorably, concerning its functioning and representation of American interests.

The majority of adults in the poll believe that US laws and policies inadequately represent the desires of the general populace on a wide range of issues, from economic and governmental expenditure, to topics such as gun control, immigration, and abortion. The survey indicates that 53% of participants are unsatisfied with Congress’s efforts to uphold democratic values, with a mere 16% believing that Congress is doing well in this regard.

These results underscore the high levels of political disenchantment as the nation, divided and fraught with political polarization, attempts to recover from the pandemic amidst an atmosphere of economic inflation and impending recession fears. Respondents seemed less concerned about the mechanics of democracy, like voting laws and ballot counting, but more focused on the resultant policies.

Nearly half of the respondents (49%) felt that democracy is not functioning well in the United States, compared to 10% who believe it’s working very or extremely well, and 40% who feel it is working somewhat well. About half also said that both political parties are failing in upholding democracy, with 47% targeting the Democrats and a higher percentage (56%) blaming the Republicans.

Michael Brown, a 45-year-old worker’s compensation adjuster from Bristol, Connecticut, expressed disappointment with both parties, citing the state of the economy and inflation as pressing concerns. A moderate Republican, Brown has been disillusioned with American democracy since high school, particularly with the Electoral College system. He feels that the current preoccupations of Congress are not aligned with the people’s needs.

The poll highlights that 53% of Americans believe the government does not adequately represent “people like them,” with 35% feeling somewhat well represented, and just 12% feeling very or extremely well represented. More Republicans and independents (6 in 10) than Democrats (4 in 10) feel underrepresented by the government.

For Karalyn Kiessling, a University of Michigan researcher, the problem is not just voting. She points out the importance of political activism and local government participation as key aspects of democratic engagement. However, she notes that increased partisan hostility might be discouraging people from participating in these essential activities.

The poll also revealed that 71% of Americans think the desires of most citizens should significantly influence the creation of laws and policies, but only 48% believe this is the reality. When it comes to specific issues, around two-thirds of adults think policies on immigration, government spending, abortion, and gun control don’t reflect the views of most Americans, with similar sentiments held about policies on the economy, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ issues. Over half also feel the same about health care and environmental policies.

Despite these stark findings, some citizens, like Stanley Hobbs, a retired autoworker from Detroit, remain hopeful. He sees the current crisis as a challenge that Americans have faced and overcome before.

This poll, conducted from June 22-26, involved 1,220 adults and used a sample from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel. The panel is designed to reflect the US population, with a margin of sampling error for all respondents being plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

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More about American Democracy Dissatisfaction

• The Big Big News-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research
• Current State of US Democracy
• Electoral College and Democracy
• Polarization in American Politics