66% Believe U.S. Has Too Much Government Power, Too Little Freedom
49% Favor Strict Legal Interpretation of the Constitution
Only 7% Support Legal Reasoning That Led to Greater Government Regulation
National Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
Conducted July 7-8, 2012
By Rasmussen Reports
1* If a farmer grows wheat for his own family to consume, should the federal government be able to limit and regulate how much he can grow?
2* To help keep farm prices high for farmers, should the federal government be able to prevent other people from growing farm products on their own land?
3* Some describe the Constitution as “a living document,” meaning it is subject to constant reinterpretation depending on the changing times. Others say the Constitution means just what it says, and nothing more. Which is closest to your view of the Constitution – that it is a living document or that it should be strictly interpreted?
4* Regardless of what you think, how has the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution over the years? Does the Supreme Court treat the Constitution as a living document or does it strictly interpret the original words of the Constitution?
5* Some people believe that there is a natural tension between government power and individual freedom. Today, is there too much government power and too little individual freedom, too much individual freedom and too little government power, or is the balance about right?
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence