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Laws allowing same-sex marriage raise the question whether the government should be defining marriage and regulating private relationships in defense of personal and spousal rights. Public opinion has shifted dramatically over the last twenty years. In 1996, only 27 percent of Americans felt same-sex marriage should be legal, but recent polls show support has increased to 54 percent.
Pew Research Center. 2014. “Gun Control.”
Pew Research Center . December 7, 2014. http://www.pewresearch.org/data-trend/domestic-issues/gun-control (February 18, 2016). Despite this sharp increase, a number of states had banned same-sex marriage until the Supreme Court decided, in
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), that states were obliged to give marriage licenses to couples of the same sex and to recognize out-of-state, same-sex marriages.
Obergefell v. Hodges , 576 U.S. ___ (2015). Some churches and businesses continue to argue that no one should be compelled by the government to recognize or support a marriage between members of the same sex if it conflicts with their religious beliefs.
National Conference of State Legislatures. 2015. “Same Sex Marriage Laws.”
National Conference of State Legislatures . June 26, 2015. http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/same-sex-marriage-laws.aspx (February 18, 2016). Undoubtedly, the issue will continue to cause a divide in public opinion.
Another area where social policy must balance rights and liberties is public safety. Regulation of gun ownership incites strong emotions, because it invokes the
Second Amendment and state culture. Of those polled nationwide, 52 percent believed government should protect the right of citizens to own guns, while 46 percent felt there should be stronger controls over gun ownership.
Pew Research Center. 2014. “Gun Control.”
Pew Research Center . December 7, 2014. http://www.pewresearch.org/data-trend/domestic-issues/gun-control (February 18, 2016). These numbers change from state to state, however, because of political culture. Immigration similarly causes strife, with citizens fearing increases in crime and social spending due to large numbers of people entering the United States illegally. Yet, 72 percent of respondents did believe there should be a path to citizenship for non-documented aliens already in the country. And while the national government’s drug policy still lists marijuana as an illegal substance, 45 percent of respondents stated they would agree if the government legalized marijuana.
Pew Research Center. 2011. “Domestic Issues and Social Policy.” May 4, 2011.
Pew Research Center . http://www.people-press.org/2011/05/04/section-8-domestic-issues-and-social-policy (February 18, 2016).
Public opinion about American institutions is measured in public approval ratings rather than in questions of choice between positions or candidates. The congressional and executive branches of government are the subject of much scrutiny and discussed daily in the media. Polling companies take daily approval polls of these two branches. The Supreme Court makes the news less frequently, and approval polls are more likely after the court has released major opinions. All three branches, however, are susceptible to swings in public approval in response to their actions and to national events. Approval ratings are generally not stable for any of the three. We next look at each in turn.
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