Quinnipiac poll: Only 38% believe checks and balances working

HAMDEN – Less than 4 in 10 voters think the system of checks and balances is working between the three branches of federal government, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters.

The same poll found that President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped to 45%, Congressional Democrats reached an all-time approval rating low of 21% and Republicans a record high at 68%. For the GOP, that is the highest level of approval since Quinnipiac began asking the question in 2009.

When asked how well the system of checks and balances is working between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government, 38% of voters think the system is working well, with 9% saying “very well,” and 29% somewhat well. Meanwhile, 54% think it is working either not so well (24%) or not well at all (30%).

There are big differences by party identification. A majority of Republicans (57%) think the system of checks and balances is working well, while a vast majority of Democrats (80%) and just over half of independents (52%) say it is not working well.

“In a perfect world, the three great pillars of U.S. government stand firm, functional, and aligned with the Constitution. It’s clear at the moment that registered voters sense dysfunction,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
In today’s poll, a plurality of Democrats (49%) disapprove of the way Congressional Democrats are handling their job, while 40% approve.
“It’s a sobering slap down of historic proportions for the Democrats in Congress. Their Republican counterparts take a victory lap as the Democrats try to get their footing,” Malloy said.
President Trump

Forty-five percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 49% disapprove. In late January, a Quinnipiac University Poll found 46% of voters approved, while 43% disapproved.

In today’s poll, Republicans (90% – 7%) approve of Trump, while Democrats (95% – 4%) disapprove. Forty-three percent of independents approve, while 50% disapprove.

Elon Musk

Fifty-five percent of voters think Elon Musk has too much power in making decisions affecting the United States, 36% think he has about the right amount of power, and 3% think he has too little power.

Other

Voters 62% – 22% oppose President Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of Gaza.

Eighty-one percent of voters think the United States should not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin.