Poll: Americans’ wish list for new Congress shows frustration with political

The McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s most recent Mood of the Nation Poll asked Americans what law they would choose, in their own words, if they could enact any law at the start of the new Congress. The results show that Americans are eager for political and electoral reform, especially instituting term limits.

Poll director Eric Plutzer said, “I think it says a lot that term limits and similar reforms are the first things that come to mind for so many people. Many Americans are prioritizing fixing the system over any particular policy that might contribute to security, freedom, equality or prosperity. That’s a symptom of deep frustration with government and how it has been functioning—or not—lately.”

Over one-quarter of Americans are eager for political or electoral reform

As part of the latest poll, fielded in mid-November, respondents were asked what law they would enact if they had a magic wand that would make it the law of the United States automatically at the start of the new, 118th Congress. Responses were recorded verbatim and the APM Research Lab coded those responses into broader categories.

More than one-quarter of respondents (28 percent) gave an answer related to political or electoral reform. We combined political- and election-reform answers since both seek to change the mechanisms by which our government functions. Even when split into two separate categories, political reform remains the frontrunner with nearly one in five Americans (18.5 percent) wishing for some sort of political reform.

In addition to political or electoral reform, Americans also desired to enact laws pertaining to justice (9.5 percent), equal rights (8.5 percent), abortion (7.9 percent) and income or taxation (7.7 percent), among others.

Overhauling the political system and instituting term limits are most common suggestions for political or electoral reform

What exactly do Americans mean by political or electoral reform?

Among those who gave an answer that fell under political or electoral reform, 21 percent felt that some sort of change to our political system was needed to overcome dissatisfaction with America’s two-party system.

“Change to Parliamentary Democracy and new constitution.”
— 66-year-old white man from North Dakota, Independent

“To do away with the political labels that currently define our government representatives, specifically the parties of ‘Democrat’ and ‘Republican.’ These labels have become destructive…”
— 44-year-old white woman from Missouri, Independent

Some respondents expressed a desire to eliminate political parties or currently in use political labels, such as one 55-year-old white woman from Indiana, a Republican, who wished for “the abolishment of the party system.” While a handful of others, like this 35-year-old Black man from Pennsylvania, a Democrat, suggested that “making political representation proportional” would bring about necessary…