Americans Like Democracy But Don T Believe It S Working Well Poll

Leo Migdal

-Nov 28, 2025, 9:25 PM

americans like democracy but don t believe it s working well poll

Demonstrators rally on Pennsylvania Avenue during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Demonstrators carry a signed banner representing the U.S. Constitution as they march to the national Mall during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025.

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) A person holds an American flag upside-down during a “No Kings” protest Oct. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans “strongly agree” or “agree” that democracy is the best form of government.

Very few disagree, with about one-third saying they don’t have an opinion. But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country’s leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people. About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it's doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans “strongly agree" or “agree” that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, with about one-third saying they don't have an opinion. But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country's leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people.

Few U.S. adults doubt their fellow Americans’ commitment to strong democracy, according to the poll, but they’re less certain about their political leadership. More than 4 in 10 Americans do not believe their leaders are committed to having a strong democracy, while about 3 in 10 say they're not sure. Meanwhile, only about one-quarter believe government decisions reflect what a majority of people want done or attempt to serve citizens' best interests. The poll is part of a project initiated by Gallup and the Charles F. Kettering Foundation that studies how Americans experience democracy.

The report released Thursday is based on a survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults conducted in July and August. It comes at a tumultuous time in American politics, marked by extreme polarization, rapid social change and deep economic anxiety, and as the country prepares to commemorate next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing... About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it's doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans "strongly agree" or "agree" that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, with about one-third saying they don't have an opinion.

But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country's leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people. Few U.S. adults doubt their fellow Americans’ commitment to strong democracy, according to the poll, but they’re less certain about their political leadership. More than 4 in 10 Americans do not believe their leaders are committed to having a strong democracy, while about 3 in 10 say they're not sure. Meanwhile, only about one-quarter believe government decisions reflect what a majority of people want done or attempt to serve citizens' best interests. The poll is part of a project initiated by Gallup and the Charles F.

Kettering Foundation that studies how Americans experience democracy. The report released Thursday is based on a survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults conducted in July and August. It comes at a tumultuous time in American politics, marked by extreme polarization, rapid social change and deep economic anxiety, and as the country prepares to commemorate next year's 250th anniversary of the signing... WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eight in 10 U.S.

adults agree on a variety of issues that reflect core aspects of U.S. democracy. These include that using violence to achieve political goals is never OK; that elected leaders should compromise to get things done; and that having a mix of races, religions and cultures benefits the nation. Americans also express a desire to limit the political influence of wealthy individuals and businesses and believe there is a difference between facts and opinions. These findings are the first from the Kettering Foundation/Gallup Democracy for All Project and are based on a multimodal (web and mail) survey of over 20,000 U.S. adults, conducted July 7 to Aug.

25. This is a five-year project designed to measure Americans’ views of how well democracy serves the U.S. and Americans from a variety of different backgrounds. The full report details how Americans largely agree that democracy is the best form of government but do not believe it is functioning well right now. As part of the survey, Americans were shown five pairs of contrasting perspectives on how democracy and U.S. society should function and were asked to choose which perspective comes closer to their view.

Large majorities of all key subgroups of Americans reject violence, favor compromise and embrace a multicultural society. There are modest differences in some of these views by party, age and education. For example, Democrats, independents and college graduates are somewhat more likely than Republicans and non-college graduates to see multiculturalism as a strength. Older Americans and Democrats are more likely than younger Americans and Republicans to endorse compromise. Age differences are even more pronounced when it comes to rejecting the use of political violence, with senior citizens most opposed and young adults the least. This relationship will be explored in more depth in an article to be released next week.

Another question in the survey, asked on a five-point agree/disagree scale, finds that eight in 10 Americans strongly agree (39%) or agree (41%) that everyone, regardless of their views, has the right to free,... Just 5% disagree, and 15% are neutral. About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it's doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... Read more... A new joint report by the Charles F.

Kettering and Gallup Foundation, entitled “Do democracy work?” and corresponding to the Democracy for All Project, reveals a paradox in America’s perception of its political system. Read more]]> About half of Americans say democracy is performing poorly, according to a survey. The Charles F. Kettering Foundation/Gallup Democracy for All Project survey found that 51 percent of respondents claimed “U.S. democracy is performing poorly,” while 24 percent claimed their country’s democracy “is performing well.” Twenty-five percent claimed the functioning of their country’s democracy is…

In an "exclusive clear-text interview" Dieter Bohlen accuses of dealing with Russia. Ukraine is "condemned to failure." He also reckons with the lack of economic competence of the local politics and the exclusion of the AfD. In contrast, he finds praise for Donald Trump. A new study from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda finds that Americans are deeply concerned about the state of U.S. democracy and that growing divisions within the Republican Party deepen partisan divides over how the Constitution should guide presidential authority and the balance of power. The report draws from a national survey of 4,500 Americans, earlier polling, and three focus groups with Republican participants.

It builds on prior SNF Agora research documenting Republican disagreement about the legitimacy of the 2020 election. It shows that these differences now extend to views of presidential power, constitutional limits, elections, and trust in government. The research identifies three distinct groups within the Republican Party: "Americans share deep concern for our democracy, but we do not all have the same reasons," said Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda. "Republicans in particular are divided between those who support unfettered presidential power and those who believe checks and balances are essential to the integrity of our constitutional order. These differences represent a deep cleavage in the Republican Party with consequences for the future of American democracy."

Across parties, most Americans express concern about U.S. democracy: Nearly half of House Democrats voted on Friday to condemn socialism, after New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s victory this month became a landmark win for the political left. Still, polls show that most Americans oppose the ideology. Newsweek reached out to Mamdani’s team for comment via email. Mamdani’s tenure as mayor will be a key test for socialist ideas over the next few years.

Socialist movements have grown over the past decade following the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who identifies as a democratic socialist. In the years that followed, more socialists, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, have been elected to Congress, and a socialist will now lead the nation’s largest city. But some Democrats are concerned about the political ramifications for the party amid the rise of socialism, and whether that could alienate some moderate voters. The latest polling suggests that socialism remains generally unpopular with most Americans. In total, 86 Democrats voted in support of a resolution condemning socialism on Friday, a sign that many in the party are still reluctant to support the ideology even if it has built momentum... The vote was on the same day Mamdani was to meet with President Donald Trump, who has referred to the incoming mayor as a “communist lunatic.”

Americans Like Democracy But Don T Believe It S Working Well Poll

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