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Shocking Poll:
Majority Of Americans Cannot Name A Single Department In The
Presidents Cabinet
For
immediate release
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 |
Contact:
Kellyanne Conway
(202) 667-6557 |
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Washington, DC – Most Americans
are unable to identify even a single department in the United
States Cabinet, according to a recent national poll of 800
adults. Specifically, the survey found that a majority
(58%) could not provide any department names whatsoever; 41%
could. Only 4% of those surveyed specified at least five of the
19 executive-level departments, a figure comparable to the
poll’s overall margin of error (+/-3.5%).
The same firm that last year revealed an eye-popping 64% of
Americans could not name any of the Justices of the United
States Supreme Court, has now uncovered a similar lack of
knowledge with respect to the Executive Branch of federal
government.
“These poll numbers would make any high school civics teacher
cringe,” says Kellyanne Conway, President and CEO of the
polling company, inc., in Washington, DC, the firm that
conducted the survey. “The differing levels of knowledge
according to gender, race and age are astonishing,” she
continued. “An incredible 70% of 18-34 year olds failed to
specify a single agency or department, and while a majority of
men (52%) could name at least one, less than one-third of women
(32%) could do the same.”
Total Men
Women
Dept of Defense
23%
29% 19%
Dept of Treasury
14%
16% 12%
Dept of State
13%
16% 10%
Dept of Homeland Security 12%
15% 8%
Dept of Interior
11%
15% 8%
No respondent named all nineteen correctly and only 1% were able
to name at least 11 departments within the President’s
Cabinet.
Hispanics (79%), African Americans (75%), 18-34 year olds (70%),
women (68%), and Pacific coast residents are among the groups
most likely to say “I don’t know” when asked to name at
least one department within the current United States Cabinet.
QUESTION
Currently, the Federal Government includes executive level
departments that advise the President. The heads of these
departments are collectively known as the Cabinet. Could
you please name as many departments as you can that are part of
the current United States Cabinet? (Note: This question
was open-ended and multiple responses were accepted, meaning,
all respondents were invited to name as few or as many
departments as they could. If a respondent provided the
specific name of a cabinet secretary or administrator, e.g.,
“Colin Powell,” they were credited with a correct response.
- 58% DO NOT KNOW
- 23% DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
- 14% DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
- 13% DEPARTMENT OF STATE
- 12% DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
- 11% DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
- 8% DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
- 8% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- 6% DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
- 6% DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
- 6% DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
- 6% DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
- 4% DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
- 3% DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
- 2% THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
- 2% DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
- 1% DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
- 1% UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
- 1% OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
- * OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
- 1% OTHER
the polling company™, inc/ WomanTrend is a full-service
public opinion research firm in Washington DC and New York.
The margin of error for the entire survey is
calculated at +3.5%. Full survey results for both
installments of the “Shocking Poll” are available on the
web at www.pollingcompany.com. The first Shocking Poll
found more than twice the number of Americans could cite the
number and names of the Rice Krispies Characters than the
United States Supreme Court Justices.
© 2000 the polling company. all rights reserved
http://www.pollingcompany.com/News.asp?FormMode=ViewReleases&ID=73
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