November 05, 2003

I want this data on my permanent blog record



SHOCKING POLL: A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS CANNOT NAME A SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN THE PRESIDENT’S CABINET.

For immediate release
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 		Contact: Kellyanne Conway
(202) 667-6557

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.
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    Posted by pecksnif at November 5, 2003 04:15 PM | TrackBack
    Comments

    So most people wouldn't notice if we destroyed all those departments, right?

    [goes back to playing with his M4 bayonet, crooning "Soon, soon, my Preciousssss...."]

    Posted by: Kim du Toit on November 5, 2003 06:11 PM

    LLLoL

    Posted by: Rodger Schultz on November 5, 2003 06:19 PM

    The majority of Americans can't name the Vice President or significant members of the Presidents Cabinet. And these morons vote...

    Posted by: AnnoyedOne on November 5, 2003 06:20 PM

    Am I -- like -- way out of touch, here, or are a lot of those listed not actually sub-cabinet agencies?

    Posted by: Mark Alger on November 6, 2003 10:11 AM

    Perhaps some of the problem stems from the fact that Civics isn't a subject tought in many High Schools.

    Posted by: Ron Fowler on November 6, 2003 03:26 PM
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