.

"Do you think it is good for the country or bad for the country that the Democratic Party is in control of Congress?"

.

.

"Now here are a few questions concerning the special election in Massachusetts in which a Republican won the seat in the U.S. Senate to replace Ted Kennedy, who died last year. Until that special election, the Democrats had sixty votes in the U.S. Senate which allowed them to pass legislation without any votes from Republican senators. Now the Democrats still have a large majority but cannot pass bills without cooperation from at least one Republican senator. Do you think this change will be good for the country or bad for the country?"

.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 16-20, 2009. N=1,160 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think the policies being proposed by the Democratic leaders in the U.S. House and Senate would move the country in the right direction or the wrong direction?"

.

12/16-20/09

8/28-31/09

5/14-17/09

9/7-9/07

4/10-12/07

1/19-21/07

12/15-17/06

10/13-15/06

8/2-3/06

.

"Do you think the policies being proposed by the Republican leaders in the U.S. House and Senate would move the country in the right direction or the wrong direction?"

.

12/16-20/09

8/28-31/09

5/14-17/09

10/13-15/06

8/2-3/06

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Dec. 11-14, 2009. N=approx. 500 adults nationwide.  RV = registered voters.

.

"How would you rate the overall performance and accomplishments of this year's Congress: one of the best, above average, average, below average, or one of the worst?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

%

12/11-14/09

1

6

32

24

34

3

7/24-27/09

2

11

40

21

23

3

10/06 RV

1

4

37

31

25

2

7/05

1

6

47

32

11

3

6/00 RV

2

9

58

22

7

2

.

"Looking back, do you feel that in 2009 the country found the Democrats and Republicans in Congress in a period of unity by working together and reaching consensus, or was it a period of division where the parties held fast to their positions and showed little willingness to compromise?"

.

%

%

%

%

12/11-14/09

12

81

3

4

.

"As you may know, the filibuster is a Senate procedure which has been used to prevent the Senate from passing controversial legislation or confirming controversial appointments by the president, even if a majority of senators support that action. A vote of at least sixty senators out of one hundred is needed to end a filibuster. Do you favor or oppose the use of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate?"

.

USA Today/Gallup Poll. April 20-21, 2009. N=1,051 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In dealing with the problems facing the country, do you think Barack Obama has or has not made a sincere effort to work with the Republicans in Congress to find solutions that are acceptable to both parties?"

.

%

%

%

4/20-21/09

66

30

4

.

"Do you think the Republicans in Congress have or have not made a sincere effort to work with Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress to find solutions that are acceptable to both parties?"

.

%

%

%

4/20-21/09

38

56

6

.

"Do you think the Democrats in Congress have or have not made a sincere effort to work with the Republicans in Congress to find solutions that are acceptable to both parties?"

.

%

%

%

4/20-21/09

44

50

6

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 5, 2009. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"As you may know, the governor of New York will need to appoint someone to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. senate once she becomes secretary of state in January. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former president John F. Kennedy, has been mentioned as a possible replacement. Would you like to see Caroline Kennedy appointed to this seat or would you rather see someone else get the appointment?"

.

%

%

%

1/5/09

45

36

19

.

"Next, as you may know, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been charged with trying to illegally profit from naming Barack Obama's replacement to the U.S. Senate. Despite the controversy, last week Blagojevich appointed former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris to fill Obama's seat. How closely have you been following the news about this matter: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not at all?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

1/5/09

21

38

25

16

1

.

"As you may know, the Senate reconvenes this week. How do you think the Senate should handle the situation when Roland Burris arrives to fill the open Illinois Senate seat? Should the Senate allow Burris to fill the seat or block Burris from filling the seat?" Options rotated

.

%

%

%

1/5/09

27

51

21

.

"Which of the following would you like to see the state of Illinois do to fill the open Senate seat? Allow Roland Burris to serve until 2010 when the next election is scheduled. Keep the seat open until the situation with Blagojevich is resolved and allow him or a new governor to appoint a senator to serve until the 2010 election. OR, Hold a special election as soon as possible to fill the seat."

.

%

%

%

%

1/5/09

16

23

52

10

.

"How much involvement do you think Barack Obama should have in attempts to fill his former U.S. Senate seat: a great deal, a fair amount, not much, or none at all?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

1/5/09

12

17

16

51

3

Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll. Dec. 6-8, 2008. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you have a lot, some or no confidence that the Democrats and Republicans in Congress over the next two years will be able to work together in a bipartisan way?"

.

%

%

%

%

12/6-8/08

23

48

23

6

AP-GfK Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. Nov. 6-10, 2008. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"As you may know, the Democrats will now control the House of Representatives, the Senate and the presidency. Do you think it good for the country, bad for the country, or does it not really make a difference that the Democrats now control the House, the Senate and the presidency?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

11/6-10/08

42

34

20

4

1

.

"As you may know, the Democrats will control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the presidency. Do you think this will be good for the country or bad for the country?"

.

.

"If you had to choose, would you rather see Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress mostly implement Democratic policies and pay little attention to the positions taken by the Republican leaders in Congress, or would you rather see Obama and the Democrats in Congress include Republican policies in any legislation that they pass?"

.

.

"And when Barack Obama and the Democratic leaders in Congress disagree on an issue, are you more likely to trust Obama or more likely to trust the Democratic leaders in Congress?"

.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Jan. 20-22, 2008. N=approx. 500 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.4.

.

"Who do you want to see take the lead role in setting policy for the country: George W. Bush or the Congress?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

1/20-22/08

21

62

10

4

3

1/07

22

57

16

3

2

1/06

25

49

16

7

3

1/02

44

32

22

1

1

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of what the Democratic leaders in the U.S. House and Senate have done so far this year?"

.

.

"Democrats gained majorities in the House and Senate in the 2006 elections and have been in the majority in both Houses of Congress all year. Do you think that the new Democratic majority in Congress is doing better, worse or about the same as the Republican majority that was in power before them?"

.

ALL

Republicans

Independents

Democrats

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Sept. 27-30, 2007. N=1,114 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults). Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"Overall, how much do you think Congress has accomplished this year: a great deal, a good amount, not too much, or nothing at all?"

.

9/27-30/07

.

Asked of those who said not too much or nothing at all:
"Who would you say deserves most of the blame for that: President Bush and the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress?"

.

9/27-30/07

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Aug. 6-8, 2007. N=approx. 500 adults nationwide. MoE ± 4.5.

.

"Since the start of this year, when the Democrats took control of Congress, in general, would you say the Democratic Congress has been a success or a failure?"

.

8/6-8/07

.

"Do you have more confidence in President Bush or in the Democrats in Congress to deal with the major issues facing the country today?"

.

8/6-8/07

11/17-19/06

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas. July 25-29, 2007. N=1,503 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Prior surveys conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.

.

"Are you happy or unhappy that the Democratic Party won control of Congress in last November's election?"

.

7/25-29/07

.

"Generally, do you think Democratic leaders in Congress will be successful or unsuccessful in getting their programs passed into law?"

.

7/25-29/07

3/21-25/07

1/10-15/07

11/9-12/06

CBS News/New York Times Poll. July 9-17, 2007. N=1,554 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Are you mostly pleased or mostly disappointed with what the Democrats in Congress are doing?"

.

%

%

%

7/9-17/07

28

58

14

.

"Are you mostly pleased or mostly disappointed with what the Republicans in Congress are doing?"

.

%

%

%

7/9-17/07

21

68

11

CBS News. June 26-28, 2007. N=836 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think the current Congress has accomplished more or less than Congress usually does during its first six months?"

.

%

%

%

%

6/26-28/07

16

59

6

19

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Neil Newhouse (R). April 20-23, 2007. N=1,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"Do you think the Democratic Congress has mostly brought the right kind of change to the country, mostly brought the wrong kind of change, or has not really brought much change either way?"

.

%

%

%

%

4/20-23/07

20

15

60

5

Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. April 2-4, 2007. N=1,000 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"Now that the Democrats have taken control of Congress, do you think the country will be better off, worse off, or will it not make much difference?"

.

%

%

%

%

4/2-4/07

39

21

39

1

1/16-18/07

42

18

39

1

11/10-12/06

42

21

33

4

.

"How confident are you that President Bush and the Democrats in Congress can work together to solve the country's problems . . . ?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

4/2-4/07

3

24

40

33

-

1/16-18/07

5

35

35

25

-

11/10-12/06

8

40

30

20

2

.

"Democrats gained majorities in the House and Senate in the 2006 elections. Do you think that the new Democratic majority in Congress is doing better, worse or about the same as the Republican majority that was in power before them?"

.

ALL reg. voters

    Republicans

    Independents

    Democrats

.

"In general, are you happy or unhappy that the Democratic Party won control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in the November 2006 congressional elections?"

.

ALL reg. voters

    Republicans

    Independents

    Democrats

.

"Democrats have been in control of Congress for about two months now. Would you say the new Democratic majority has been doing a better job or worse job than you expected they would do?"

.

ALL reg. voters

    Democrats

    Republicans

    Independents

.

"Democrats gained majorities in the House and Senate in the 2006 elections. After a little over a month in office, do you think that the new Democratic majority in Congress is doing better, worse or about the same as the Republican majority that was in power before them?"

.

ALL reg. voters

    Republicans

    Independents

    Democrats

.

"From what you've seen or heard about the new Congress, in general, do you think the Democrats are keeping the promises they made during the campaign, or not?"

.

ALL adults

  Republicans

  Democrats

  Independents

.

"Do you think it will be good for the country or bad for the country that the Democratic Party will be in control of Congress?"

.

12/15-17/06

11/17-19/06

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 5-7, 2007. N=506 adults nationwide. MoE ± 5.

.

"Do you think the policies being proposed by [see below] would move the country in the right direction or in the wrong direction?"

.

"The Republican leaders in the U.S. House and Senate"

   1/5-7/07

   1/6-8/06

.

"The Democratic leaders in the U.S. House and Senate"

   1/5-7/07

   1/6-8/06

.

"Who do you want to have more influence over the direction the nation takes in the next year: George W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress?" Options rotated

.

1/5-7/07

11/9-12/06

1/11-14/02

7/10-11/01

6/8-10/01

2/9-11/01

CBS News Poll. Jan. 1-3, 2007. N=993 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Over the coming year, do you think President George W. Bush and the Democrats in Congress will or will not be able to work together?"

.

1/1-3/07

12/8-10/06

.

"Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic about the next two years with the Democratic Party in control of Congress?"

.

1/1-3/07

12/8-10/06

.

"Do you think that in the next two years the new Congress will accomplish more or less than Congress usually does in a typical two-year period?"

.

1/1-3/07

12/8-10/06

CNN Poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation. Dec. 15-17, 2006. N=1,019 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democratic leaders in Congress are handling the transition from Republican to Democratic control of Congress?"

.

12/15-17/06

.

"Do you think the Democratic leaders in Congress will bring real reform to the way Congress operates, or don't you think so?"

.

12/15-17/06

.

"Compared to the last Congress, do you think the new Congress will [see below]?"

.

"Be more corrupt, less corrupt, or won't there be any difference"

   12/15-17/06

.

"Be more responsive to what the pubic wants, less responsive, or won't there be any difference"

   12/15-17/06

.

"Get more done, get less done, or won't there be any difference"

   12/15-17/06

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Dec. 7-11, 2006. N=1,005 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults). Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"Overall, who do you trust to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years: Bush or the Democrats in Congress?" Options rotated

.

12/7-11/06

.

"As you may know, control of Congress will switch from the Republicans to the Democrats next month. Do you think that's a good thing, a bad thing, or doesn't it make any difference?"

.

12/7-11/06

.

"With control of Congress, do you think the Democrats should work mainly to carry out their agenda, or should work mainly to compromise with Bush and the Republicans?" Options rotated. Half sample.

.

12/7-11/06

.

"With the Democrats in control of Congress, do you think Bush should work mainly to carry out his agenda, or should work mainly to compromise with the Democrats?" Options rotated. Half sample.

.

12/7-11/06

.

"Overall, how much do you think Congress will be able to accomplish in the next year: a great deal, a good amount, not too much, or nothing at all?"

.

12/7-11/06

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Nov. 9-12, 2006. N=1,479 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

.

"Are you happy or unhappy that the Democratic Party won control of Congress?"

.

11/9-12/06

.

"Who in Washington do you think should take the lead in solving the nation's problems: President Bush, or the Democratic congressional leaders?"

.