Majority Say System Of Checks & Balances Not Working Well, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Congressional Job Approval: Democrats Hit All-Time Low, Republicans Hit Record High

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Less than 4 in 10 voters think the system of checks and balances between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government is working well, while more than half of voters think it is not working well, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released today.

Thirty-eight percent of voters think the system of checks and balances in the federal government is working either very well (9 percent) or somewhat well (29 percent), while 54 percent think it is working either not so well (24 percent) or not well at all (30 percent).

There are big differences by party identification.

Among Republicans, 57 percent think the system is working either very well (16 percent) or somewhat well (41 percent), while 34 percent think it is working either not so well (22 percent) or not well at all (12 percent).

Among Democrats, 14 percent think the system is working either very well (1 percent) or somewhat well (13 percent), while 80 percent think it is working either not so well (32 percent) or not well at all (48 percent).

Among independents, 41 percent think the system is working either very well (11 percent) or somewhat well (30 percent), while 52 percent think it is working either not so well (24 percent) or not well at all (28 percent).

"In a perfect world, the three great pillars of U.S. government stand firm, functional, and aligned with the Constitution. It's clear at the moment that registered voters sense dysfunction," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

ELON MUSK

Fifty-five percent of voters think Elon Musk has too much power in making decisions affecting the United States, 36 percent think he has about the right amount of power, and 3 percent think he has too little power.

Among Republicans, 16 percent think Elon Musk has too much power, 78 percent think he has about the right amount of power, and 1 percent think he has too little power.

Among Democrats, 96 percent think Elon Musk has too much power and 1 percent think he has about the right amount of power.

Among independents, 56 percent think Elon Musk has too much power, 33 percent think he has about the right amount of power, and 4 percent think he has too little power.

Voters 54 - 42 percent disapprove of Elon Musk playing a prominent role in the Trump administration. In Quinnipiac University's January 29 poll, voters disapproved 53 - 39 percent.

PRESIDENT TRUMP

Forty-five percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 49 percent disapprove. In Quinnipiac University's January 29 poll, 46 percent of voters approved, while 43 percent disapproved.

In today's poll, Republicans (90 - 7 percent) approve, while Democrats (95 - 4 percent) disapprove. Forty-three percent of independents approve, while 50 percent disapprove.

Voters were asked about Trump's handling of seven issues...

  • immigration issues: 46 percent approve, 49 percent disapprove, with 5 percent not offering an opinion;
  • the economy: 44 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove, with 8 percent not offering an opinion;
  • foreign policy: 44 percent approve, 48 percent disapprove, with 8 percent not offering an opinion;
  • trade: 42 percent approve, 49 percent disapprove, with 9 percent not offering an opinion;
  • the federal workforce: 41 percent approve, 49 percent disapprove, with 10 percent not offering an opinion;
  • the Russia - Ukraine war: 40 percent approve, 44 percent disapprove, with 16 percent not offering an opinion;
  • the Israel - Hamas conflict: 38 percent approve, 47 percent disapprove, with 15 percent not offering an opinion.

CONGRESS

Twenty-one percent of voters approve of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job, which is an all-time low, while 68 percent of voters disapprove and 11 percent did not offer an opinion. The Quinnipiac University Poll first asked this question of registered voters in March 2009.

In today's poll, 40 percent of Democrats approve of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job, while 49 percent disapprove and 11 percent did not offer an opinion.

Forty percent of voters approve of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job, which is a record high, while 52 percent disapprove and 8 percent did not offer an opinion. The Quinnipiac University Poll first asked this question of registered voters in March 2009.

"It's a sobering slap down of historic proportions for the Democrats in Congress. Their Republican counterparts take a victory lap as the Democrats try to get their footing," added Malloy.

GAZA

Two weeks after President Trump introduced a plan for the United States to take control of Gaza, 22 percent of voters support the proposal, while 62 percent oppose it.

Republicans (49 - 32 percent) support the proposal, while Democrats (94 - 1 percent) and independents (66 - 17 percent) oppose it.

"The grand plan to transform a shattered Gaza into a lavish American restoration project on the Mediterranean has many more skeptics than supporters," added Malloy.

VLADIMIR PUTIN

An overwhelming majority of voters (81 percent) think the United States should not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin, while 9 percent think the United States should trust him.

ECONOMY

Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) think inflation in the United States is a very serious problem, 29 percent think it is a somewhat serious problem, 5 percent think it is a not so serious problem, and 1 percent think it is not a problem at all.

Voters are evenly split on whether Trump's policies will help the nation's economy, hurt the nation's economy, or won't make a difference, as 44 percent think they will help the nation's economy, while 44 percent think they will hurt the nation's economy, and 7 percent think they won't make a difference.

Fifty-one percent of voters think Trump's tariffs will hurt the U.S. economy, while 40 percent think his tariffs will help the U.S. economy.

SATISFACTION

Forty percent of voters say they are either very satisfied (17 percent) or somewhat satisfied (23 percent) with the way things are going in the nation today, while 58 percent of voters say they are either somewhat dissatisfied (16 percent) or very dissatisfied (42 percent). This is the highest level of satisfaction (40 percent) since September 2019 in a Quinnipiac University poll.

GENDER AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

Fifty-seven percent of voters support President Trump's executive order recognizing only two sexes, male and female, in the United States, while 38 percent oppose it.

Republicans (96 - 4 percent) and independents (59 - 35 percent) support the order, while Democrats (77 - 14 percent) oppose the order.

Fifty-three percent of voters think policies focused on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace are a good thing for organizations, while 38 percent think they are a bad thing for organizations.

Democrats (76 - 16 percent) and independents (54 - 39 percent) think they are a good thing for organizations, while Republicans (59 - 30 percent) think they are a bad thing for organizations.

1,039 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from February 13th - 17th with a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

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