Elite and Public Attitudes about Democratic Reforms

• In Event: Public Attitudes toward Democratic Principles, Reforms, and Backsliding

Abstract

In light of growing polarization and anti-democratic attitudes in the U.S. public, many researchers and politicians have suggested potential interventions and democratic reforms that may help to reduce polarization and improve democratic functioning. However, we know relatively little about public support for these potential reforms. Moreover, for these interventions to work, politicians must also believe they are both feasible to implement and effective once implemented. To that end, we conduct parallel surveys, one on a nationally representative sample of the U.S. public, and one on legislators across the U.S. at the state, county, and city levels. We ask both samples about the feasibility and effectiveness of a range of 10 proposed interventions drawn from researchers, politicians, and public discourse. By doing so, we not only identify which interventions the public and elites support, but also where public attitudes overlap with political elites’ attitudes about the same interventions.

Authors

• Gavin Ploger, University of Michigan

• Yphtach Lelkes, University of Pennsylvania

• Sean Westwood, Dartmouth College