NPR-Kaiser Family Foundation-Kennedy School of Government Civil Liberties Study

NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation/Kennedy School of Government Civil Liberties

I. Introduction

Note: As shown, some questions were asked only of subsets of respondents (e.g., people who said they had decided how they would vote). Unless otherwise indicated, the tables reflect percentages of the subset that was asked the question, not percentages of the overall population. An asterisk (*) indicates a response of less than 1 percent. A cross indicates a volunteered response.

1. What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address?

	11/12/01
September 11 attacks/War on terrorism	53
The Economy (non specific)	27
The War in Afghanistan	36
Education	7
Healthcare (not Medicare)	5
Taxes	4
Foreign Policy (unspecified)	3
Immigration	3
Social Security	2
Federal Surplus/Budget/Deficit	2
Peace/World Peace/Peace in Middle East	2
Honesty in Government/Other Government	2
Race/Civil Rights	2
Moral/Religious Values	2
Medicare	1
Programs for Poor/Poverty	1
Crime/Violence	1
Drugs	1
Other	9
Don't Know	7

2. How much of the time do you trust the federal government in Washington to do what is right -- just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, or none of the time?

	Just about always/Most of the time			Only some of the time/None of the time			Don't know
	NET	Just about always	Most of the time	NET	Only some of the time	None of the time	Don't know
11/12/01	58	14	45	41	36	5	1
6/00*	29	5	24	70	59	11	1

(*NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School of Government)

3. How concerned are you about the invasion of your personal privacy in the United States today? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, only a little concerned, or not concerned at all?

	CONCERNED			NOT CONCERNED			Don't know
	NET	Very	Somewhat	NET	Only a little	Not at all	Don't know
11/12/01	62	35	27	38	21	16	*
1/89*	76	44	32	23	17	6	1

(*Cambridge Reports/Research International)

4. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement. It's dangerous to restrict freedom of speech because restricting the freedom of one person could lead to restrictions on everybody--do you strongly agree, mildly agree, mildly disagree, or strongly disagree?

	AGREE			DISAGREE			Don't know
	NET	Strongly	Mildly	NET	Mildly	Strongly	Don't know
11/12/01	77	47	29	21	12	9	2
12/97*	83	59	24	14	8	6	3

(*Center for Survey Research and Analysis, University of Connecticut)

5. Do you think the federal government threatens your own personal rights and freedoms, or not?

	Yes	No	Don't know
11/12/01	30	67	3
6/00*	46	54	*

(*NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School of Government)

(Asked of respondents who think the federal government threatens their own rights and personal freedoms; n = 337)

5a. Is this a MAJOR threat or a MINOR threat?

	Major	Minor	Don't know
11/12/01	49	49	2
6/00*	50	50	*

(*NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School of Government)

5/5a. Combo Table

	Yes, government threatens your own personal rights and freedoms			No, government does not threaten your own personal rights and freedoms	Don't know
	NET	Major threat	Minor threat		Don't know
11/12/01	30	14	14	67	3

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

6a. Should the number of people who are allowed to immigrate to the United States from the Middle East be increased, decreased, or kept at its present level?

	Increased	Decreased	Kept at its present level	Don't know
11/12/01	4	57	36	3

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

6a1. Should the number of people from the Middle East who are allowed to visit or study in the United States be increased, decreased, or kept at its present level?

	Increased	Decreased	Kept at its present level	Don't know
11/12/01	3	56	38	3

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 605)

6b. Should the number of people who are allowed to immigrate to the United States from other countries be increased, decreased, or kept at its present level?

	Increased	Decreased	Kept at its present level	Don't know
11/12/01	6	61	31	1

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 605)

6b1. Should the number of people from other countries who are allowed to visit or study in the United States be increased, decreased, or kept at its present level?

	Increased	Decreased	Kept at its present level	Don't know
11/12/01	9	45	45	1

7. To the best of your knowledge, has the Congress recently passed a new anti-terrorist bill, or not?

	Yes	No	Don't know
11/12/01	53	27	20

13. Now thinking generally about the last 10 years or so, how often do you think American law enforcement agencies have abused their powers? Do you think this has happened very often, somewhat often, not very often, or never?

	OFTEN			NOT OFTEN			Don't know
	NET	Very	Somewhat	NET	Not very	Never	Don't know
11/12/01	67	25	41	32	30	2	1

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 603)

9. It has been reported that some police officers stop motorists of certain racial or ethnic groups because the officers believe that these groups are more likely than others to commit certain types of crime. This practice is known as racial profiling. Do you approve or disapprove of the use of racial profiling by police?

	Approve	Disapprove	Don't know
11/12/01	21	75	3
12/99*	14	81	5

*(Gallup Organization)

(Asked of one half of total respondents; n = 605)

10. Since September 11^th, some law enforcement agencies have stopped and searched people who are Arab or of Middle Eastern descent to see if they may be involved in potential terrorist activities. Do you approve or disapprove of this kind of profiling?

	Approve	Disapprove	Don't know
11/12/01	66	30	4

Next: II. Trust and Confidence in Government

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