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* Political Parties

* Political Party System

* Political Polarization

* Federal Governance Issues

* State Legislative System

* Satisfaction with Government

"If Democrats win control of Congress, do you think it is more likely to lead to a change for the better, a change for the worse, or no real change?"

"Which political party do you think is better at handling the economy, the Democrats or the Republicans?"

"(Now, thinking about the Democratic and Republican parties in Minnesota…) Do you think that almost all of the people running the (Democratic/Republican) party in Minnesota are honest, that most are honest, or that not many of the people running the (Democratic/Republican) party are honest at all?"

Poll: July 19-24, 2004
Sample: 1030
MoE: ± 3.0

"(Now, thinking about the Democratic and Republican parties in Minnesota…) The (Democratic/Republican) party spends too much time working for special interest groups instead of working for what is best for all Minnesotans."

Poll: July 19-24, 2004
Sample: 1030
MoE: ± 3.0

"Which of the following would you say best describes the (Democratic/Republican) Party in Minnesota?
A) Average (Democrats/Republicans) are shut out of the party process because the party is fragmented by so many (liberal/conservative) interest groups
B) The (Democratic/Republican) party in Minnesota is representative of average Democrats because it is so easy to get involved in the party process."

Poll: September 13-17, 2002
Sample: 1038
MoE: ± 3.0

"Which of the following would you say best describes the Independence Party in Minnesota?
A) The Independence Party is just another political party for those who want to gain power
B) The Independence Party represents people shut out of the process by other political parties."

"Which of the following comes closest to your opinion . . .
A) The Green Party is too extreme to be politically effective
B) The Green Party can be an agent of change on environmental and social issues."

"The way the system works nowadays, political parties are more of a hindrance
than help in getting things done."

"Which of the following comes closest to your opinion? …
A) The state is better off with a traditional two-party system. 
B) The state is better off with more than two strong political parties."

"Currently, three parties control state government: the Democrats, the Republicans, and the Independence Party, formerly known as the Reform Party. Do you think state government is working much better, a little better, about the same, a little worse or much worse than when two parties controlled state government?"

"Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following: So many people have taken extreme positions these days that it's hard to talk with anyone about politics unless you know they're likely to agree with you."

"You may have heard recently about a dispute in the U.S. Senate about confirming judicial nominees, which has cast the spotlight on the use of the filibuster. For more than a century, Senate minority parties have used the filibuster to block votes on things they oppose and prevent majority parties from having too much power. The current rule requires 60 votes to end a filibuster. There is talk of changing that rule so a simple majority of 51 senators could end a filibuster and bring matters to a vote. Should the Senate leave the process alone, or should they make it easier to cut off filibusters?"

"Here are some statements about the U.S. federal government. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each one."

Poll: January 2-7, 2001
Sample: 781
MoE: ± 3.5

"How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right; almost always, most of the time, some of the time or never?"

"Would you say the government is pretty much run for the benefit of all the people or that it is largely run for a few big interests?"

"Do you feel that almost all of the people running the government are honest, that most are honest, or that not many of the people running the government are honest at all?"

"Which would you say is more likely in the next few years: that Congress and President Bush will work better together than Congress and presidents have in the past, that things will be about the same, or that there will be even more political gridlock than usual?"

"In general, would you favor keeping a bicameral legislature as we have now that has a House and a Senate with each having to pass a bill before sending it to the governor to sign into law, or would you favor changing it to a unicameral legislature that has only one elected body that would send a bill to the governor?"

"Governor Jesse Ventura wants to change the way the state Legislature works from a bicameral Legislature that has a state House and Senate to a unicameral Legislature that has a single elected body. How much would you say you know about this "unicameral" Legislature proposal, a lot, a fair amount, only some, or not much at all?"

"To change the Legislature from one with a House and a Senate to one that has that has only one elected body would require voters to amend the state's constitution. Regardless of whether you support a one-house or a two-house legislature, would you favor or oppose placing the proposal for such a constitutional amendment before voters?"

"At the present time, there are 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives and 67 members of the State Senate. It has been suggested that the state legislature be reduced in size. Which would you prefer:
A) Replacing the two chambers we now have with a single law-making body,
B) Keeping both chambers but cutting back on the number of members in each, OR
C) Keep things as they are."

"Here are some arguments that some people make about changing the way the Legislature works. Please tell me if you agree or disagree …"

Poll: January 3-9, 2000
Sample: 1031
MoE: ± 3.1

"Thinking now about some of the basic services the city of (St. Paul / Minneapolis) provides. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not satisfied at all and 10 being very satisfied, please tell me how satisfied you are with each of the following …"

+ St. Paul poll only asked for satisfaction rating for 'recycling.'
# Poll of St. Paul residents only. (Sample: 816; MoE: ± 3.5)
## Poll of Minneapolis residents only. (Sample: 801; MoE: ± 3.5)