{"id":51027,"date":"2011-02-15T22:03:20","date_gmt":"2011-02-16T03:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2011\/02\/15\/public-remains-divided-over-the-patriot-act-2\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:10:56","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:10:56","slug":"public-remains-divided-over-the-patriot-act-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2011\/02\/15\/public-remains-divided-over-the-patriot-act-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Remains Divided Over the Patriot Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 id=\"overview\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/02\/703-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"294\" height=\"207\"><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Public views of the Patriot Act, whose renewal is being debated by Congress, have changed little since the Bush administration. Currently, 42% say the Patriot Act is a necessary tool that helps the government find terrorists, while somewhat fewer (34%) say the Patriot Act goes too far and poses a threat to civil liberties.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2006, the public divided evenly over the Patriot Act, with 39% saying it is a necessary tool and 38% saying it goes too far. In 2004, a slight plurality (39%) said it goes too far and threatens civil liberties.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey by the Pew Research Center for the People &amp; the Press, conducted Feb. 10-13, 2011 among 1,000 <\/p>\n\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.pewresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2011\/02\/703-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"292\" height=\"220\"><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">adults, finds that while overall opinions about the Patriot Act have changed modestly since 2006, Democrats express more positive views of the law than they did five years ago.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, about as many Democrats say the law is a necessary tool as say it goes too far (35% vs. 40%). In January 2006, 25% said it was a necessary tool while about twice as many (53%) said it goes too far.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the same period, the proportion of Republicans who view the Patriot Act as a necessary tool that helps the government find terrorists has declined slightly, from 65% to 57%.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is less public awareness of the debate over Patriot Act than there was in 2006 or 2004. Today, just 32% say they have heard a lot (12%) or some (20%) about the issue. In January 2006, 51% heard at least some about the Patriot Act; 44% heard at least some about it in December 2004.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among those who heard a lot or some about the Patriot Act, 49% see it as a necessary tool while 41% say it goes too far. In 2006, opinion was more evenly divided among those who had heard at least some about the Patriot Act (48% necessary tool, 46% goes too far).<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Public views of the Patriot Act, whose renewal is being debated by Congress, have changed little since the Bush administration. Currently, 42% say the Patriot Act is a necessary tool that helps the government find terrorists, while somewhat fewer (34%) say the Patriot Act goes too far and poses a threat to civil liberties. 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