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Americans Show Consensus On Many Democracy Related Matters

Leo Migdal
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americans show consensus on many democracy related matters

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. 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: Economic hardship, social disconnection and age gaps shape faith in U.S. democracy Nearly 250 years after the founding of U.S.

democracy, most Americans still believe it is the best form of government. However, many question how well it’s working, according to the first report from the Democracy for All Project, a new multiyear research initiative by the Kettering Foundation in partnership with Gallup. The project is the most extensive annual study of how Americans experience and participate in the democratic system. The survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults reveals that two-thirds of Americans say democracy is the best form of government, but only about one in four (24%) believe it is performing well. A majority, 51%, say it is performing poorly.

“Americans still believe in democracy, they just don’t believe it’s working,” said Jim Clifton, Chairman of Gallup. “The system isn’t broken because people stopped caring; it’s broken because people stopped trusting. Rebuilding that trust starts with leaders who listen.” The Democracy for All Project, a partnership of the Kettering Foundation and Gallup, is the first in-depth, annual study of how Americans experience democracy today. The 2025 inaugural report, Is Democracy Working?, draws from the views of over 20,000 adults nationwide, with a special focus on inclusion, belonging, and the voices of marginalized communities. As we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take a moment to remind everyone that we are much more united than we are divided.

That we can still come together to resolve the fiscal crisis and other challenges that are facing this country. A new poll by Kettering Foundation/Gallup Democracy for All Project show how united we actually all are. Across political divides, ages, and educations an overwhelming majority of people support compromise by our politicians, condemn political violence, and support multiculturalism. So, as you sit across the table sharing thanks with family and friends, some of whom may not share your exact political beliefs, remember that there is more uniting you than dividing you. Find that common ground, have a respectful conversation, and be thankful for everything you have and share. Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.

https://lnkd.in/ee96VUPd While I truly hope you are right and in the long term, will lead to a better world, being in agreement on many things, does not necessarily mean we cannot be destroyed by intense... Sometimes, in the name of peace and living, we need to try "ignore" or set aside those things upon which we disagree the most. Eight in 10 endorse compromise; 83% reject political violence 84% say U.S. benefits from having a mix of cultures

Public split on whether cultural change is happening too fast 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. The survey reveals a strong foundation of shared democratic values among Americans at a time when many see the nation as starkly divided. There is broad support for the democratic ideals of nonviolence, compromise, multiculturalism and freedom of expression — key principles that underpin free, democratic and civil societies. The news cycle is ablaze with economic uncertainty. Consumer confidence has been unsteady to start 2025. Three in five Americans think the economy will experience a recession in the next year.

The issue that Americans generally care most about is in turmoil. That all makes it especially surprising that an increasing number of Americans are saying that “political extremism and threats to democracy” is the most important problem facing the country. Over the past two months, it beat out the “economy, unemployment, and jobs” as the main issue in Reuters/Ipsos polling. Concern with political extremism and threats to democracy is now at the highest it’s been since Ipsos began tracking it in February 2024. Is this a temporary blip or a sign of something new? Here are five charts on where Americans stand on the state of democracy.

Americans are predictably split on the state of U.S. democracy. Democrats feel Trump has exceeded his authority and thus feel more concerned about political extremism and threats to democracy. Republicans don’t. Independents are somewhere in between. Political violence in recent U.S.

history has been driven by multiple demographics and ideologies: historically and through the 2010s and early 2020s much lethal extremist violence came from right‑wing and white‑supremacist actors, but several 2025 analyses and datasets document... Researchers emphasize that political violence spans the ideological spectrum, is concentrated among small minorities within larger demographic groups, and is shaped by age, regional context, and perceptions of demographic and cultural threat [4] [5]... 1. Who the data most often points to: right‑wing and white‑supremacist perpetrators For years multiple datasets and expert summaries found that right‑wing extremists — especially those motivated by white supremacy, antisemitism, and militia/conspiracy narratives — accounted for the majority of extremist murders and many high‑profile attacks,... Scholarly and policy work stresses that these ideologies remain central drivers of much lethal political violence in the recent past [8] [2].

2. The rising attention to left‑wing incidents in 2025 and contested interpretation Several recent analyses — notably a CSIS study covering early‑2025 incidents — report an uptick in left‑wing terrorism and plots, with some months in 2025 where left‑wing incidents outnumbered far‑right incidents, prompting debate among... Commentators and analysts caution that this increase is from a low base and does not necessarily equate to parity with the historical scale or deadliness of right‑wing terrorism [11] [2]. The Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Gallup have launched the Democracy for All Project, a landmark national survey and research initiative exploring how Americans perceive and experience democracy.

By amplifying voices from all backgrounds and examining perceptions of inclusion, fairness and opportunity, this project seeks to identify solutions to strengthen democratic engagement and bridge divides. The Democracy for All Project, a partnership of the Kettering Foundation and Gallup, is the first in-depth, annual study of how Americans experience democracy today. The 2025 inaugural report, Is Democracy Working?, draws from the views of over 20,000 adults nationwide, with a special focus on inclusion, belonging and the voices of marginalized communities. The study highlights significant divides by age, financial security and feelings of belonging. The project pays special attention to rural, low-income and marginalized communities, seeking solutions to strengthen engagement and bridge divides. As Kettering Foundation President Sharon L.

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