Trust in Government

Now I'd like to ask you several questions about our governmental system. First, how much trust and confidence do you have in our federal government in Washington when it comes to handling [International problems/Domestic problems] -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
International problems
2019 Jan 21-27	10	31	38	19	1
2018 Sep 4-12	12	38	35	13	1
2017 Sep 6-10	11	41	34	13	2
2016 Sep 7-11	11	38	36	14	1
2015 Sep 9-13	8	37	37	18	*
2014 Sep 4-7	9	34	36	19	1
2013 Sep 5-8	10	39	33	17	1
2012 Sep 6-9	18	48	24	9	1
2011 Sep 8-11	14	43	34	9	1
2010 Sep 13-16	11	46	30	12	1
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	13	49	28	9	1
2008 Sep 8-11	13	43	31	12	1
2007 Sep 14-16	8	43	34	13	1
2007 Feb 1-4	7	46	36	10	1
2006 Sep 7-10	13	39	33	14	1
2006 Feb 6-9	10	49	31	8	2
2005 Sep 12-15	14	42	33	11	*
2005 Feb 7-10	14	48	31	7	*
2004 Sep 13-15	18	45	28	8	1
2004 Feb 9-12	14	48	29	9	*
2003 Sep 8-10	16	47	27	9	1
2003 Jul 18-20	17	52	25	5	1
2003 Feb 3-6	17	56	20	6	1
2002 Sep 5-8	18	53	22	6	1
2002 Jun 17-19	21	54	18	6	1
2002 Feb 4-6	21	60	14	4	1
2001 Oct 11-14	36	47	13	3	1
2001 Sep 7-10	14	54	25	6	1
2001 Feb 1-4	12	63	19	4	2
2000 Jul 6-9	17	55	21	6	1
2000 May 18-21	8	45	34	12	1
1998 Dec 28-29	9	52	30	7	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	10	58	23	7	2
1976 Jun	8	48	33	7	4
1974 Apr	24	49	18	4	3
1972 May	20	55	20	2	4
Domestic problems
2019 Jan 21-27	6	29	43	20	1
2018 Sep 4-12	9	36	38	16	1
2017 Sep 6-10	5	40	40	14	1
2016 Sep 7-11	8	36	39	16	1
2015 Sep 9-13	4	34	42	19	1
2014 Sep 4-7	8	32	42	17	1
2013 Sep 5-8	8	34	40	17	1
2012 Sep 6-9	12	39	36	11	1
2011 Sep 8-11	8	35	40	17	1
2010 Sep 13-16	7	39	37	16	1
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	9	42	34	14	1
2008 Sep 8-11	6	42	37	14	1
2007 Sep 14-16	6	41	38	14	1
2007 Feb 1-4	8	44	38	10	1
2006 Sep 7-10	8	44	34	13	1
2006 Feb 6-9	8	45	36	10	1
2005 Sep 12-15	10	43	35	11	1
2005 Feb 7-10	9	47	35	8	1
2004 Sep 13-15	13	48	31	7	1
2004 Feb 9-12	9	50	30	10	1
2003 Sep 8-10	9	49	32	9	1
2003 Jul 18-20	14	50	29	7	*
2003 Feb 3-6	11	52	28	7	2
2002 Sep 5-8	11	52	28	7	2
2002 Jun 17-19	13	54	23	8	2
2002 Feb 4-6	12	59	23	5	1
2001 Oct 11-14	24	53	17	4	2
2001 Sep 7-10	6	54	31	8	1
2001 Feb 1-4	7	56	28	8	1
2000 Jul 6-9	10	48	30	10	2
2000 May 18-21	11	54	26	7	2
1998 Dec 28-29	11	54	26	7	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	6	45	36	11	2
1976 Jun	5	44	42	7	3
1974 Apr	9	42	36	8	4
1972 May	11	59	26	3	2
Gallup

As you know, our federal government is made up of three branches: an executive branch, headed by the president; a judicial branch, headed by the U.S. Supreme Court; and a legislative branch, made up of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. First, let me ask you how much trust and confidence you have at this time in the executive branch headed by the president, the judicial branch headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the legislative branch, consisting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
Executive branch
2018 Sep 4-12	24	18	21	37	*
2017 Sep 6-10	21	24	23	32	*
2016 Sep 7-11	22	29	25	24	*
2015 Sep 9-13	16	29	27	28	*
2014 Sep 4-7	14	29	28	28	*
2013 Sep 5-8	18	33	23	25	1
2012 Sep 6-9	28	28	23	20	1
2011 Sep 8-11	17	30	29	23	*
2010 Sep 13-16	20	29	27	24	*
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	26	35	22	16	1
2008 Sep 8-11	12	30	30	28	1
2007 Sep 14-16	15	28	32	24	1
2006 Sep 7-10	15	31	28	24	1
2005 Sep 12-15	19	33	30	18	*
2004 Sep 13-15	31	27	25	16	1
2003 Sep 8-10	25	35	26	14	*
2002 Sep 5-8	28	44	20	7	1
2001 Sep 7-10	21	42	28	8	1
2000 Jul 6-9	18	47	23	11	1
1999 Feb 4-8	21	43	24	11	1
1998 Dec 28-29	24	39	23	12	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	13	49	27	9	2
1976 Jun	13	45	30	9	4
1974 Apr	12	28	36	20	3
1972 May	24	49	20	4	2
Judicial branch
2018 Sep 4-12	18	50	22	9	1
2017 Sep 6-10	16	52	24	7	1
2016 Sep 7-11	12	49	28	9	1
2015 Sep 9-13	11	42	31	16	*
2014 Sep 4-7	10	51	30	9	1
2013 Sep 5-8	13	49	28	9	1
2012 Sep 6-9	14	53	27	4	2
2011 Sep 8-11	12	51	28	8	1
2010 Sep 13-16	14	52	28	5	2
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	18	58	18	4	2
2008 Sep 8-11	14	55	23	6	3
2007 Sep 14-16	15	54	23	6	1
2006 Sep 7-10	15	54	21	7	3
2005 Sep 12-15	13	55	25	6	1
2004 Sep 13-15	14	51	27	6	2
2003 Sep 8-10	13	54	27	5	1
2002 Sep 5-8	17	58	18	5	2
2001 Sep 7-10	17	57	20	4	2
2000 Jul 6-9	23	52	18	6	1
1999 Feb 4-8	29	51	13	5	2
1998 Dec 28-29	27	51	16	4	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	19	52	22	5	2
1976 Jun	16	47	26	6	4
1974 Apr	17	54	20	5	5
1972 May	17	49	24	7	4
Legislative branch
2018 Sep 4-12	4	36	40	19	1
2017 Sep 6-10	3	32	46	18	1
2016 Sep 7-11	3	32	43	20	1
2015 Sep 9-13	3	29	45	23	*
2014 Sep 4-7	3	25	50	20	1
2013 Sep 5-8	6	28	44	22	1
2012 Sep 6-9	4	30	47	18	1
2011 Sep 8-11	5	26	50	19	*
2010 Sep 13-16	5	31	42	21	1
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	6	39	38	17	*
2008 Sep 8-11	4	43	38	12	2
2007 Sep 14-16	5	45	36	12	1
2006 Sep 7-10	6	50	31	10	2
2005 Sep 12-15	8	54	31	6	1
2004 Sep 13-15	7	53	33	6	1
2003 Sep 8-10	8	55	31	5	1
2002 Sep 5-8	9	58	26	6	1
2001 Sep 7-10	7	58	28	6	1
2000 Jul 6-9	11	57	24	7	1
1999 Feb 4-8	8	49	34	7	2
1998 Dec 28-29	13	48	30	7	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	6	48	36	8	2
1976 Jun	9	52	31	6	4
1974 Apr	13	55	24	4	4
1972 May	13	58	22	3	3
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

How much trust and confidence do you have in the government of the state where you live when it comes to handling state problems -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2018 Sep 4-12	18	45	24	13	*
2017 Sep 6-10	20	43	23	14	*
2016 Sep 7-11	16	46	25	12	1
2015 Sep 9-13	15	43	29	12	1
2014 Sep 4-7	19	43	23	14	1
2013 Sep 5-8	18	44	24	14	1
2012 Sep 6-9	17	48	23	11	1
2011 Sep 8-11	15	42	28	14	1
2010 Sep 13-16	11	41	29	18	1
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	12	39	36	13	1
2008 Sep 8-11	18	49	22	10	2
2007 Sep 14-16	18	49	23	9	1
2005 Sep 12-15	17	50	26	7	*
2004 Sep 13-15	16	51	24	8	1
2003 Sep 8-10	12	41	34	12	1
2001 Sep 7-10	17	48	27	7	1
1998 Dec 28-29	29	51	15	4	1
1997 May 30-Jun 1	18	50	25	6	1
1976 Jun	13	59	19	7	2
1974 Apr	16	59	17	3	4
1972 May	15	48	27	6	3
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

And how much trust and confidence do you have in the local governments in the area where you live when it comes to handling local problems -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2018 Sep 4-12	24	48	20	8	*
2017 Sep 6-10	23	47	20	9	1
2016 Sep 7-11	23	48	21	8	1
2015 Sep 9-13	19	51	20	9	1
2014 Sep 4-7	24	48	18	8	1
2013 Sep 5-8	21	50	19	9	1
2012 Sep 6-9	23	51	16	8	1
2011 Sep 8-11	19	49	21	11	1
2010 Sep 13-16	19	51	20	10	1
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	19	50	22	8	1
2008 Sep 8-11	23	49	17	9	2
2007 Sep 14-16	22	47	19	10	2
2005 Sep 12-15	23	47	23	7	*
2004 Sep 13-15	21	47	24	7	1
2003 Sep 8-10	18	50	23	8	1
2001 Sep 7-10	19	50	20	10	1
1998 Dec 28-29	23	54	16	5	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	21	48	21	7	2
1976 Jun	13	52	23	9	3
1974 Apr	16	55	16	8	5
1972 May	12	51	26	7	4
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media such as newspapers, TV and radio -- when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately and fairly -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2018 Sep 4-12	14	31	30	24	*
2017 Sep 6-10	13	28	29	29	1
2016 Sep 7-11	8	24	41	27	*
2015 Sep 9-13	7	33	36	24	*
2014 Sep 4-7	10	30	36	24	*
2013 Sep 5-8	11	33	33	22	1
2012 Sep 6-9	8	32	39	21	1
2011 Sep 8-11	11	33	36	19	1
2010 Sep 13-16	12	31	36	21	*
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	10	35	37	18	1
2008 Sep 8-11	9	34	35	21	1
2007 Sep 14-16	9	38	35	17	*
2005 Sep 12-15	13	37	37	12	1
2004 Sep 13-15	9	35	39	16	1
2003 Sep 8-10	14	40	35	11	*
2002 Sep 5-8	10	44	35	11	*
2001 Sep 7-10	12	41	33	14	*
2000 Jul 6-9	12	39	37	12	*
1999 Feb 4-8	11	44	34	11	*
1998 Dec 28-29	11	44	35	9	1
1997 May 30-Jun 1	10	43	31	15	1
1976 Jun	18	54	22	4	2
1974 Apr	21	48	21	8	2
1972 May	18	50	24	6	2
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

How much trust and confidence do you have in general in men and women in political life in this country who either hold or are running for public office -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2018 Sep 4-12	6	49	37	7	1
2017 Sep 6-10	5	43	43	7	1
2016 Sep 7-11	7	35	48	9	1
2015 Sep 9-13	5	39	47	9	1
2014 Sep 4-7	6	39	44	9	2
2013 Sep 5-8	6	40	43	9	2
2011 Sep 8-11	6	39	47	6	2
2010 Sep 13-16	4	43	44	7	2
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	5	44	42	8	1
2008 Sep 8-11	8	58	29	3	2
2007 Sep 14-16	5	50	37	6	1
2005 Sep 12-15	4	54	35	5	2
2004 Sep 13-15	6	57	32	3	2
2003 Sep 8-10	5	54	36	4	1
2002 Sep 5-8	6	54	33	6	1
2001 Sep 7-10 ^	4	51	39	6	*
2000 Jul 6-9	7	57	31	3	2
1998 Dec 28-29	7	56	31	4	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	5	52	37	5	1
1976 Jun	6	58	28	4	4
1974 Apr	7	61	24	4	4
1972 May	7	58	27	5	2
* Less than 0.5%; ^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

More generally, how much trust and confidence do you have in the American people as a whole when it comes to making judgments under our democratic system about the issues facing our country -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2018 Sep 4-12	13	45	32	9	*
2017 Sep 6-10	14	48	32	6	1
2016 Sep 7-11	13	43	36	7	1
2015 Sep 9-13	12	45	37	6	1
2014 Sep 4-7	15	44	34	7	1
2013 Sep 5-8	16	45	33	6	1
2012 Sep 6-9	17	47	31	4	1
2011 Sep 8-11	19	48	29	4	*
2010 Sep 13-16	21	48	26	4	1
2009 Aug 31-Sep 2	20	53	23	4	*
2008 Sep 8-11	19	53	23	3	2
2007 Sep 14-16	17	53	27	4	*
2005 Sep 12-15	22	56	19	3	*
2004 Sep 13-15	21	54	22	2	1
2003 Sep 8-10	24	52	21	2	1
2002 Sep 5-8	23	55	17	4	1
2001 Sep 7-10	17	57	22	3	1
1976 Jun	25	61	12	1	2
1974 Apr	27	56	13	2	3
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

How much trust and confidence do you have in the agencies and departments of the federal government when it comes to carrying out the functions of the federal government -- a great deal, a fair amount, not very much or none at all?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Not very much	None at all	No opinion	Great deal/Fair amount
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2013	10	42	36	12	1	52
Gallup

How much of the time do you think you can trust government in Washington to do what is right -- just about always, most of the time or only some of the time?

	Just about always	Most of the time	Only some of the time	Never (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2010 Jan 8-10	2	17	75	6	*
2006 Jan 6-8	4	28	64	3	1
2005 Jun 16-19	4	26	65	5	*
2003 Oct 24-26	4	33	58	4	1
2002 Sep 2-4	8	38	52	2	*
2002 Jun 17-19	6	39	51	3	1
2001 Oct 5-6	13	47	38	1	1
2000 Jul 6-9	4	38	56	2	*
1999 Feb 4-8	5	29	64	2	*
1998 Jan 30-Feb 1	6	33	59	2	*
1997 May 30-Jun 1	3	29	65	2	1
1996 May 9-12	2	24	69	4	1
1995 Aug 4-7	2	20	71	5	2
1994 Jun 3-6	3	14	73	9	1
1994 Jan 28-30	1	19	74	5	1
1993 Mar 22-24	3	20	75	2	*
1992 Jun 4-8	2	21	71	4	2
* Less than 0.5%; (vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Do you think that quite a few of the people running the government are crooked, not very many are, or do you think hardly any of them are crooked?

	Quite a few	Not very many	Hardly any	All (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2010 Jan 8-10	55	30	8	6	1
2008 Jan 10-13	52	28	10	5	4
2000 Jul 6-9	49	38	8	3	2
1997 May 30-Jun 1	50	37	8	3	2
1996 May 9-12	52	32	9	5	2
1994 Jun 3-6	58	29	6	5	2
1992 Apr 20-22	61	25	7	4	3
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements -- I don't think public officials care much what people like me think?

	Agree	Disagree	No opinion
	%	%	%
2001 Oct 5-6	41	57	2
1992 Sep 11-15	59	38	3
1984 Jul 27-30	53	41	6
Gallup

Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements -- People like me don't have any say about what the government does.

	Agree	Disagree	No opinion
	%	%	%
2001 Oct 5-6	39	59	2
1992 Sep 11-15	42	56	2
1984 Jul 27-30	40	57	3
1976 Feb 27-Mar 1	45	50	5
Gallup

Trust in Government

Trust in Government

Related Topics Include:

The U.S.-Global Leadership Report: What People Worldwide Think of U.S. Leadership

Recommended

Americans' Trust in Government to Handle Problems at New Low

Americans' Trust in Politicians Hits 10-Year High

Trust in U.S. Legislative Branch 40%, Highest in Nine Years

What Americans Want Their Government to Do Now