NEW YORK , N.Y. – November 25, 2014 – President Obama set off no small amount of controversy last week when he announced sweeping executive actions on immigration policy. While conservatives have decried the actions as overstepping presidential authority, the president has responded with the simple and open challenge for Congress to pass a bill. But several days before President Obama even hinted at his intent, immigration was already among the issues Americans saw as most important for the government to address, with 24% of U.S. adults naming it – without prompt – as a top issue for action. This represents considerable growth from the 17% saying the same in June and a threefold increase from the 8% prioritizing immigration last December.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,276 U.S. adults surveyed online between November 12 and 17, 2014 (President Obama announced his executive actions on November 20).
Immigration isn’t the only issue on Americans’ minds. It falls just behind healthcare (including mentions of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare – 26%, up from 22% in June) and the economy (25%, down slightly from 27%), and just ahead of employment/jobs (20%, down from 23% in June).
Further down the list, 9% of Americans mention the budget deficit or national debt, 7% point to education, and 6% each name the environment and terrorism. Meanwhile, 5% each name budget/government spending, taxes and issues related to the income gap/wealth inequality in America.
Priorities by party
There are some differences in how the top five issues rank depending on party affiliation (or lack thereof).
- For Republicans, immigration is the top priority, followed by healthcare. The economy comes in third, followed by employment/jobs in fourth and the budget deficit/national debt closing out the top five priorities.
- Healthcare comes in first among Democrats, with the economy ranking second. Employment/jobs come in third, immigration fourth and the environment and education tie for the fifth position.
- For Independents, the economy and immigration tie for first priority, followed by healthcare. Employment/jobs comes in third, followed by the budget deficit/national debt in fourth. The environment rounds out Independents’ top five.
Expectations for Republican controlled Congress
Setting aside which issues Americans think the government should prioritise – which ones do they think will fare well and poorly under a Republican congress? The highest percentages of Americans indicate Republican control of congress will be a good thing for the U.S. economy (44%, vs. 39% who think it will be bad and 17% who think it will make no difference), for employment/jobs (42% vs. 37% and 21%, respectively), and for education (39% vs. 36% and 24%, respectively).
Americans are most likely to think the new congressional order will be a bad thing for income inequality (48%, vs. 26% who think it will be a good thing and 25% who think it will make no difference), political corruption (43% vs. 25% and 32%, respectively), congressional gridlock (42% vs. 37% and 21%, respectively) and race relations (41% vs. 27% and 32%, respectively).
TABLE 1
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE – TREND
What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to address?
Top Spontaneous, unprompted replies
Base: All adults
|
’97 |
’98 |
’99 |
’00 |
’01 |
’02 |
’03 |
’04 |
’05 |
’06 |
’07 |
’08 |
’09 |
’10 |
’11 |
’12 |
’13 |
’13 |
’13 |
’14 |
’14 |
’14 |
|
|
May |
Jan |
Feb |
Aug |
Dec |
Dec |
June |
Oct |
Aug |
June |
Oct |
Oct |
Mar |
Jan |
May |
Mar |
Mar |
Sept |
Dec |
Mar |
June |
Nov |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Healthcare (not Medicare) including Obamacare/ACA |
10 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
5 |
10 |
14 |
18 |
11 |
12 |
25 |
22 |
25 |
45 |
18 |
21 |
23 |
33 |
42 |
29 |
22 |
26 |
|
The economy (non-specific) |
8 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
32 |
34 |
25 |
28 |
19 |
14 |
13 |
64 |
50 |
32 |
29 |
30 |
27 |
26 |
24 |
25 |
27 |
25 |
|
Immigration |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
20 |
12 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
17 |
24 |
|
Employment/jobs |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
21 |
31 |
33 |
36 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
29 |
23 |
20 |
|
Budget deficit/National debt |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
3 |
X |
17 |
11 |
16 |
12 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
|
Education |
15 |
14 |
21 |
25 |
12 |
11 |
13 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
7 |
|
Environment |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
|
Terrorism |
X |
X |
X |
X |
22 |
17 |
11 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
Budget/Government spending |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
5 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
20 |
10 |
14 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
|
Taxes |
14 |
16 |
12 |
13 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
|
Income gap/Wealth distribution/Middle class |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
(Programs for) the poor/ poverty |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
Wars/Armed conflicts |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
6 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Social security |
6 |
6 |
24 |
16 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
National security |
X |
X |
2 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
ISIS/ISIL |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
3 |
|
Foreign policy (non-specific) |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
Human/civil/women’s rights |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Bipartisanship |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Homeland/domestic security/public safety |
X |
X |
X |
X |
8 |
9 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
X |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Military/defense |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Ebola |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
|
LGBT/Same sex rights |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Welfare |
14 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Infrastructure |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Energy/Energy Issues |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Downsizing government |
X |
X |
X |
1 |
|
X |
X |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Medicare |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Other |
8 |
19 |
2 |
19 |
3 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
15 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
3 |
|
Not sure/refused/no issue |
9 |
12 |
16 |
18 |
11 |
10 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
= Less than 0.5%, X = Not mentioned as specific issue; Note: Prior to March, 2009, this question was asked via telephone
TABLE 2
TOP 5 MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE – By Political Party
Base: All adults
|
Rank |
Republicans |
Democrats |
Independents |
|
1st |
Immigration |
Healthcare (not Medicare) including Obamacare/ACA |
The economy (non-specific) + Immigration (TIE) |
|
2nd |
Healthcare (not Medicare) including Obamacare/ACA |
The economy (non-specific) |
Healthcare (not Medicare) including Obamacare/ACA |
|
3rd |
The economy (non-specific) |
Employment/Jobs |
Employment/Jobs |
|
4th |
Employment/Jobs |
Immigration |
Budget deficit/National debt |
|
5th |
Budget deficit/National debt |
Environment + Education (TIE) |
Environment |
TABLE 3a
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL WILL BE GOOD/BAD FOR…
Summary Grid
As you may or may not know, in the recent elections the Republican Party gained control of the Senate and retained control of the House of Representatives, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress. Do you think this will be good, bad or make no difference for each of the following issues?
Base: All adults
|
|
|
Very/Somewhat good |
Very good |
Somewhat good |
Very/Somewhat bad |
Somewhat bad |
Very bad |
It will make no difference |
|
U.S. economy |
% |
44 |
19 |
25 |
39 |
21 |
18 |
17 |
|
Employment/Jobs |
% |
42 |
18 |
24 |
37 |
20 |
17 |
21 |
|
The state of the country in general |
% |
41 |
17 |
24 |
40 |
21 |
19 |
18 |
|
Education |
% |
39 |
14 |
26 |
36 |
20 |
16 |
24 |
|
Immigration |
% |
39 |
18 |
21 |
43 |
20 |
23 |
18 |
|
Congressional gridlock |
% |
37 |
16 |
22 |
42 |
16 |
26 |
21 |
|
Crime |
% |
37 |
12 |
25 |
27 |
15 |
12 |
36 |
|
Conflicts in the Middle East |
% |
37 |
14 |
22 |
37 |
20 |
17 |
27 |
|
Conflicts in Eastern Europe |
% |
35 |
13 |
23 |
33 |
19 |
14 |
32 |
|
Race relations |
% |
27 |
9 |
18 |
41 |
21 |
20 |
32 |
|
Income inequality |
% |
26 |
9 |
17 |
48 |
19 |
29 |
25 |
|
Political corruption |
% |
25 |
9 |
16 |
43 |
19 |
24 |
32 |
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 3b
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL WILL BE GOOD FOR…
As you may or may not know, in the recent elections the Republican Party gained control of the Senate and retained control of the House of Representatives, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress. Do you think this will be good, bad or make no difference for each of the following issues?
Base: All adults
|
|
Total |
Political Party |
||
|
Rep. |
Dem. |
Ind. |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
U.S. economy |
44 |
77 |
26 |
42 |
|
Employment/Jobs |
42 |
74 |
24 |
40 |
|
The state of the country in general |
41 |
75 |
21 |
42 |
|
Education |
39 |
65 |
26 |
36 |
|
Immigration |
39 |
71 |
19 |
38 |
|
Congressional gridlock |
37 |
68 |
20 |
35 |
|
Crime |
37 |
57 |
25 |
38 |
|
Conflicts in the Middle East |
37 |
66 |
20 |
36 |
|
Conflicts in Eastern Europe |
35 |
62 |
21 |
36 |
|
Race relations |
27 |
48 |
17 |
24 |
|
Income inequality |
26 |
50 |
13 |
25 |
|
Political corruption |
25 |
49 |
14 |
22 |
TABLE 3c
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL WILL BE BAD FOR…
As you may or may not know, in the recent elections the Republican Party gained control of the Senate and retained control of the House of Representatives, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress. Do you think this will be good, bad or make no difference for each of the following issues?
Base: All adults
|
|
Total |
Political Party |
||
|
Rep. |
Dem. |
Ind. |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Income inequality |
48 |
19 |
73 |
45 |
|
Immigration |
43 |
18 |
66 |
40 |
|
Political corruption |
43 |
16 |
66 |
40 |
|
Congressional gridlock |
42 |
18 |
63 |
39 |
|
Race relations |
41 |
15 |
61 |
40 |
|
The state of the country in general |
40 |
14 |
65 |
35 |
|
U.S. economy |
39 |
14 |
61 |
35 |
|
Employment/Jobs |
37 |
13 |
59 |
32 |
|
Conflicts in the Middle East |
37 |
11 |
56 |
35 |
|
Education |
36 |
13 |
55 |
34 |
|
Conflicts in Eastern Europe |
33 |
13 |
49 |
29 |
|
Crime |
27 |
12 |
43 |
22 |
TABLE 3d
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL WILL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE FOR…
As you may or may not know, in the recent elections the Republican Party gained control of the Senate and retained control of the House of Representatives, giving them a majority in both houses of Congress. Do you think this will be good, bad or make no difference for each of the following issues?
Base: All adults
|
|
Total |
Political Party |
||
|
Rep. |
Dem. |
Ind. |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Crime |
36 |
31 |
32 |
40 |
|
Race relations |
32 |
36 |
22 |
36 |
|
Conflicts in Eastern Europe |
32 |
25 |
30 |
35 |
|
Political corruption |
32 |
35 |
21 |
39 |
|
Conflicts in the Middle East |
27 |
23 |
24 |
29 |
|
Income inequality |
25 |
32 |
14 |
30 |
|
Education |
24 |
22 |
19 |
29 |
|
Congressional gridlock |
21 |
14 |
17 |
27 |
|
Employment/Jobs |
21 |
14 |
17 |
28 |
|
The state of the country in general |
18 |
11 |
15 |
23 |
|
Immigration |
18 |
12 |
15 |
22 |
|
U.S. economy |
17 |
9 |
14 |
23 |
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online, in English, within the United States between November 12 and 17, 2014 among 2,276 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words margin of error as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of The Harris Poll.
The Harris Poll® #107, November 25, 2014
By Larry Shannon-Missal, Managing Editor, The Harris Poll
