Donate
PPIC Logo Independent, objective, nonpartisan research

Search Results

Filters Sort by:
Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Californians are divided in their assessment of the Affordable Care Act, but most are aware that California has a health care exchange.
  • In the wake of the government shutdown and the flawed rollout of the national health insurance website, approval of both the president and Congress has dropped to record lows.
  • A record-high 66 percent of Californians say the state is economically divided into haves and have-nots.

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
Economic Outlook for California [PDF]
General Direction of Things in the United States [PDF]
Economic Outlook for the United States [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
Economic Outlook for California [XLS]
General Direction of Things in the United States [XLS]
Economic Outlook for the United States [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

At Issue, Report

Reforming California’s Initiative Process

By Mark Baldassare

Californians are highly supportive of the initiative process but see room for improvement. Three steps to improve the process—connecting the legislative and initiative processes, increasing disclosure of initiative funders, and reengaging citizens in the initiative process—reflect Californians’ critiques and their desire to continue making laws at the ballot box. These reforms could have far-reaching consequences, with considerable promise for increasing citizen engagement, encouraging voter participation, and building trust in state government.

This research was supported with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Four in ten Californians say they will not be affected much by health care reform. About a quarter think they will be better off and a similar share think they will be worse off.
  • Half of Californians support the state government’s plan to ease prison overcrowding; most are concerned about the possible early release of prisoners.
  • There is overwhelming support for regulations requiring oil companies to obtain permits and disclose information on chemicals used in fracking and other oil extraction methods.
  • For the first time, a majority of Californians say marijuana use should be legal.

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]
Senator Boxer [PDF]
Senator Feinstein [PDF]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [PDF]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]
Senator Boxer [XLS]
Senator Feinstein [XLS]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [XLS]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
Economic Outlook for California [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
Economic Outlook for California [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • A record-high majority say California should act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, rather than wait until the economy improves.
  • Although many are unaware of the state’s cap-and-trade program, most consider it important to spend some of the revenues in disadvantaged areas.
  • Slim majorities favor building the Keystone XL Pipeline, but oppose increased use of fracking.

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

At Issue, Report

Improving California’s Democracy

By Mark Baldassare

California voters are pessimistic and polarized, but they agree in two areas: they have confidence in local government and faith in the initiative process. Recognizing the disconnect between the desire to bring government closer to the people and the fact that millions of Californians do not vote, this report recommends ways to engage and inform a wider electorate.

This report was supported with funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Obama and Biden lead Romney and Ryan by 14 points in the presidential race in California.
  • On the two tax measures to fund education, half of likely voters favor Proposition 30 and support is slightly lower for Proposition 38.
  • Likely voters prefer life imprisonment over death as the penalty for first-degree murder.

Job Approval Ratings:
 President Obama [PDF]
 Governor Brown [PDF]
 California State Legislature [PDF]
 U.S. Congress [PDF]
 Senator Boxer [PDF]
 Senator Feinstein [PDF]
 Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [PDF]
 Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
 President Obama [XLS]
 Governor Brown [XLS]
 California State Legislature [XLS]
 U.S. Congress [XLS]
 Senator Boxer [XLS]
 Senator Feinstein [XLS]
 Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [XLS]
 Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
 General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
 Economic Outlook for California [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
 General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
 Economic Outlook for California [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

Report

Test-driving California’s Election Reforms

By Eric McGhee, Daniel Krimm

In the June 2012 primary, California tested two important electoral changes: new legislative and congressional districts drawn by an independent citizens commission and a "top two" primary system. The results suggest the reforms produced some changes—in particular, more open seats and more competition. However, there was also a great deal of continuity with recent elections: most candidates endorsed by a major party and all incumbents are advancing to the fall election and partisan outcomes were broadly in line with what might have been expected under the old primary system. Over time, the reforms may produce more radical change, but the first step on the road of reform has been a small one.

Search results are limited to 100 items. Please use the Refine Results tool if you are not finding what you are looking for.