Justice & the Courts
SCOTUS Aligns With American Public Opinion on Alabama Immigration Law
[04.30.2013]By refusing to hear a case on Alabama’s immigration law and letting the lower court decision stand, the Supreme Court’s decision more closely aligns with public preferences for federally-based solutions to immigration.
Graphic of the Week | Views on the Legalization of Same-sex Marriage
[03.07.2013]Later this month, the Supreme Court will take up two important cases related to same-sex marriage. As this week’s graphic shows, there are religious groups on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate.
Will California Voters Outlaw the Death Penalty?
[10.29.2012]California voters are at the center of one particularly heated debate: on November 6, they will have the opportunity to decide whether the death penalty should be abolished in their state, after being restored three decades ago.
Research Note | American Attitudes on the Death Penalty
[09.29.2011]A strong majority (67%) of Americans currently favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. According to surveys conducted between April and July 2011, a majorities of virtually every demographic group favor capital punishment.
Want To Know More About American Attitudes on the Death Penalty?
[09.29.2011]You’re in luck! If you’ve been following our coverage of the recent debates on the death penalty, either in “Figuring Faith” or on the blog, you may want to know more about what Americans think about the death penalty. Toddle right over to our research page to see our latest research note, “American Attitudes on the Death Penalty” and learn about differences along partisan, racial, religious, gender and generational lines,… more
Americans Support the Death Penalty, At Least in the Abstract
[09.21.2011]Over the past few months, much (electronic) ink has been spilled over an issue that doesn’t usually get much play: the death penalty. The planned executions of Duane Buck in Texas and Troy Davis in Georgia resurrected the debate over the morality of the death penalty, although these cases are somewhat unusual. The Georgia Pardons Board refused clemency for Davis yesterday, which means that he will likely be executed tonight… more
Happy Constitution Day: What Do Americans Think About Separation of Church and State?
[09.16.2011]Although it’s technically tomorrow (September 17), today people around the United States will observe Constitution Day, a federal holiday created in 2004 to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and those who have, by birth or naturalization, become United States citizens. The day provides a good opportunity to reflect on how Americans think about what it means to be a U.S. citizen, and how Constitutional values inform our political… more