.

"Do you think the Republicans in Congress have the same priorities for the country as you have, or don't they?"

.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). Dec. 7-11, 2011. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.  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?"

.

%

%

%

%

%

%

12/7-11/11

1

2

21

33

42

1

8/5-9/10

1

5

31

28

32

3

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

.

"Do you think that Congress so far this year has done something to address the problems facing the country today, or do you think Congress has done nothing to address the country's problems?"

.

.

"Do you think that Congress so far this year has done something to address the problems facing the country today, or do you think Congress has done nothing to address the country's problems?" If "has done nothing": "Do you think the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress have been more responsible for the fact that Congress has done nothing to address the country's problems?" Combined responses

.

CNN/ORC Poll. Sept. 23-25, 2011. N=1,010 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

.

"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?"

.

9/23-25/11

7/18-20/11

1/21-23/11

12/17-19/10

12/16-20/09

8/28-31/09

5/14-17/09

10/13-15/06

8/2-3/06

.

"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?"

.

9/23-25/11

7/18-20/11

1/21-23/11

12/17-19/10

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 Republican 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?"

.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. May 24-26, 2011. N=1,007 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

.

"Do you think it is good for the country or bad for the country that the Republican Party is in control of the U.S. House of Representatives?"
2010: "Do you think it will be good for the country or bad for the country that the Republican Party will be in control of the U.S. House?"

.

5/24-26/11

1/14-16/11

12/17-19/10

.

"As you may know, the Republicans now control the House of Representatives, while Democrats control 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 Republicans now control the House of Representatives while Democrats control the Senate and the presidency?"

.

.

"How well do you think the Republicans in Congress understand the important issues the country will need to focus on during the next two years? Would you say [see below]?"

.

.

"In the past, when the president has given his State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress, Republicans have all sat on one side of the room and Democrats have all sat on the other side. Do you think that should occur during this year's State of the Union speech, or do you think Republican and Democratic members of Congress should sit next to each other on both sides of the room while the speech is in progress?"

.

ALL

Democrats

Independents

Republicans

.

"Do you think members of Congress should or should not be given bodyguards to help protect them?"

.

.

"Do you approve or disapprove of Republican congressional leaders' policies and plans for the future?"

.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 17-19, 2010. N=1,008 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

.

"Do you think the Republicans will do a better job running the U.S. House than the Democrats did, a worse job than the Democrats, or won't there be much difference?"

.

12/17-19/10

.

"The Republicans have control of the House of Representatives. Which statement comes closer to your view about what you think should happen? The Republicans should compromise with the Democrats and President Obama to get things done. The Republicans should stand firm on their positions even it if means things don't get done."

.

ALL

Democrats

Republicans

Independents

.

"What do you think will happen? The Republicans will compromise with the Democrats and President Obama to get things done. The Republicans will stand firm on their positions even it if means things don't get done."

.

.

"Compared to the last Congress, do you think the new Congress will be more corrupt, less corrupt, or won't there be any difference?"

.

.

"Compared to the last Congress, do you think the new Congress will be more responsive to what the public wants, less responsive, or won't there be any difference?"

.

.

"Compared to the last Congress, do you think the new Congress will get more done, get less done, or won't there be any difference?"

.

.

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

.

.

"How confident are you that Republicans in Congress will be successful in bringing about the changes needed to improve the economy . . . ?"

.

.

"How confident are you that the Republicans in Congress will be able to implement the policy agenda they promised in the campaign . . . ?"

.

.

"Are you happy or unhappy that the Republican Party won control of the House of Representatives?"

.

.

"As best you can tell, do you approve or disapprove of Republican congressional leaders' policies and plans for the future?"

.

.

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

.

.

"Do you think the Republicans will do a better job running the House of Representatives than the Democrats did, a worse job than the Democrats, or won't there be much difference?"

.

.

"Do you think the country would be better off if the Republicans controlled Congress, if the Democrats controlled Congress, or would the country be the same regardless of which party controlled Congress?"

.

.

"Do you think Congress has accomplished more this year, less, or about the same as it has in the past few years?"

.

.

"How much does it matter to you which political party controls Congress: a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or not at all?"

.

.

"This year, have Republicans and Democrats in Washington been working together more to solve problems OR have they been bickering and opposing one another more than usual?"

.

.

"Compared to recent Congresses, would you say THIS Congress has accomplished more, accomplished less, or accomplished about the same amount?"

.

.

"Regardless of how you, yourself, plan to vote, which party do you think will win control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the congressional elections this fall: the Republicans or the Democrats?" Options rotated

.

.

"Suppose the Republicans win control of Congress in this November's elections. Do you think the country would be better off, worse off, or would it not make any difference?"

.

.

"Do you think the country would be better off if the Republicans controlled Congress, if the Democrats controlled Congress, or would the country be the same regardless of which party controlled Congress?"

.

.

"Do you favor or oppose establishing term limits on the number of terms members of the U.S. Congress can serve, including your own senators and representatives?"
2009 & 2005: "Do you favor or oppose limiting the number of terms members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, including your own senators and representatives, can serve?"

.

.

.

"How do you personally feel about the policies offered by the Republicans in Congress: enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?"

.

.

"Do you think it is better for the country to have a president who comes from the same political party that controls Congress, does it make no difference either way, or do you think it is better to have a president from one political party and Congress controlled by another?" Options rotated

.

.

"In general, when most members of Congress debate issues facing the country do you think they are more civil today compared to 10 years ago, less civil, or about as civil as they were 10 years ago?"

.

.

"Some people have suggested eliminating the filibuster procedure in the U.S. Senate so that all that would be needed to pass legislation would be a simple majority of votes, 51 out of 100. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea?"

.

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. March 19-21, 2010. N=1,030 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Generally speaking, do you think most Republicans in Congress are ethical or unethical?"

.

3/19-21/10

10/6-8/06

.

"Generally speaking, do you think most Democrats in Congress are ethical or unethical?"

.

3/19-21/10

10/6-8/06

.

"As you may know, the Senate operates under procedures that effectively require 60 votes, out of 100, for most legislation to pass, allowing a minority of as few as 41 senators to block a majority. Do you think this procedure should remain in place, or do you think it should be changed so that legislation is passed with a simple majority?"

.

.

"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?"

.

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?"

.