EVALUATING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT NOMINATION The Court, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• National telephone survey (landline and mobile) of 1,000 registered voters Interviews conducted Sept 19-24, 2017 Margin of error +/- 3.1 percentage points, larger for subgroups • Focus groups of swing voters and Democrats In Columbus, OH and Richmond, VA Conducted February 15 & 16, 2017 EVALUATING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT NOMINATION The Court, the Constitution, and the Voters

CONSERVATIVE ARGUMENT: Judges have a responsibility to interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning as it was written, not as they wish it were written. When judges apply their own beliefs in their rulings instead of strictly following the Constitution’s words, they go beyond their authority, usurping powers that are granted to Congress and the President by the Constitution. CAC ARGUMENT: Judges have a responsibility to apply the text and history of the whole Constitution to modern challenges. Our Constitution was amended 27 times—outlawing slavery, promising equality for all, and giving African Americans and women the right to vote. Our founders created a constitutional system designed to adapt to changes in society, while also enshrining enduring values. Which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view?

CAC Approach to Constitution Beats Trump's 59% White Coll White Black Hispanic 39% Split sample (n=500): MoE 4% 51% 77% 54.5% 36% 63.5% Some College 49% 50% 50% 51% 59% 56% 50% 64.5% 58% 48.5% Coll Grad + HS or less Rhetoric of Conservative Originalism CAC Which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view? 54% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% +15 CAC 60+ Conservative CAC Liberal Democrat Mod/Cons Democrat Independent Republican Male Female 18-39 40-59 51%

Interprets the Constitution taking into account (ranked by % one of most + very) 68% 69% 75% 25% 22% 23% 24% Italics = split-sampled + % Very Qualities of Justices its text, history, and values % One of Most Fewer Want Originalists The Constitution’s “Text, History, And Values,” While The Largest Number Want Justices To Take Into Account meaning of text as written Interprets Constitution according to original today's issues + challenges Interprets Constitution in the context of its text and history Interprets the Constitution taking into account 63%