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Civic Research Results
The 2003 NCC/Gallup Poll marked the first collaborative public opinion study between the National Constitution Center's Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach and the Gallup Organization. The 2003 NCC/Gallup Talk Back Study was inspired by one of the more unique features of the NCC: the "Talk Back" and "Town Hall Wall" areas of the NCC museum. These rely on a distinctly low-tech form of interactivity -- yellow sticky notes and golf pencils -- to gather visitors' opinions on a number of important constitutional issues. Visitors can share their thoughts, react to what others have written by adding their own notes, and in some cases string multiple notes to produce a mini-treatise.
The questions asked in the 2003 NCC/Gallup Talk Back Study mirror those posed in the museum exhibits. The findings are interesting in their own right, but can also be compared with the views museum visitors express, as each day NCC staff removes, tallies, and archives the notes. Highlights of the study include: - Asked to rate the legitimacy of eight different justifications sending troops to war, more than four in five Americans agree war is justified when another country declares war on the United States(83%) or when the United States is attacked (81%). Americans are more ambivalent when the threat is less acute -- such as when another country harbors groups that present a clear threat to the United States (43%), or to honor U.S. treaty commitments with other nations (34%). Americans are much more circumspect about the legitimacy of war when it is launched merely for humanitarian reasons (18%), or in order to liberate the people of another country (13%). (Based on the National Constitution Center Talk Back question "Tell us what justifies sending troops to war?")
- Poll respondents were asked about the recent controversy surrounding the display of the Ten Commandments at the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery. Three-quarters of Americans (77%) believe that the Constitution's provision for freedom of religion defends this kind of display; only 21% believe the display should be removed because of the constitutional separation of church and state. (Based on the National Constitution Center Talk Back question "Should the Ten Commandments be posted on public buildings?")
- By a better than 2-to-1 margin -- 68% vs. 28% -- Americans believe that the Second Amendment gives individual Americans the right to keep and bear arms, rather than merely preserve the existence of "citizen militias." However, when probed, 82% of Americans who say the amendment guarantees this right say that the government can regulate it. Only 12% of all Americans say that the Constitution gives Americans an unrestricted right to bear arms. (Based on the National Constitution Center Talk Back question "Does the Second Amendment protect the rights of individual gun owners?")
- Earlier this year, Attorney General John Ashcroft traveled the country speaking to law enforcement officials about the Patriot Act. Only 25% of Americans say the Patriot Act goes too far in restricting people's rights in order to reduce terrorism; nearly as many (20%) say it does not go far enough, while 45% say it is about right. (Based on the National Constitution Center Talk Back question "Does the Patriot Act balance our security and liberty?")
- Of the major freedoms usually associated with the U.S. Constitution, Americans prize the right to vote above all others. Six in 10 (60%) say this is crucial to their own sense of freedom. Second on the list is freedom of religion (55%), a reflection of the fact that religion is very important in the lives of a majority of Americans. This is closely followed by the right to free speech (52%) and the right to due process (52%). Freedom of the press (36%) and the right to keep and bear arms are crucial to much smaller numbers (30%). (Based on the National Constitution Center Talk Back question "Tell what makes you free?")
Study Methods The survey questions reported as part of the 2003 NCC/Gallup Talk Back study were conducted by Gallup across three separate national surveys conducted between September and November 2003. Questions asked Sept. 8-10, 2003, are based on telephone interviews with 1,025 national adults, aged 18 and older. Questions asked Oct. 6-8, 2003, are based on telephone interviews with 1,017 national adults. Questions asked Nov. 10-12, 2003, are based on telephone interviews with 1,004 national adults, aged 18 and older. For results based on samples of these sizes, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. For complete survey results contact The Gallup Organization or National Constitution Center.
Related Links:
 National Constitution Center/Gallup Poll 2003 Talkback Study: Final Topline
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Gallup and National Constitution Center Collaborate on Poll, Other Civic Projects
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