GovExec.com Opinion Leader Survey: Complete Results
GovExec.com Opinion Leader Survey: Complete Results
DAILY BRIEFING
GovExec.com Opinion Leader Survey: Complete Results
Below are the results of a recent Frederick Schneiders Research/National Journal poll conducted for GovExec.com. The research group surveyed 381 federal executives in October on major issues facing the federal government. An explanation of the methodology for the survey follows the results.
1. Several years ago, Vice President Al Gore launched a program to "reinvent" government so that it would become more efficient, productive, and responsive. How much positive effect do you think the "reinventing government" effort has had?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Great effect | 55 | 14% |
| Some effect | 201 | 53% |
| Little effect | 56 | 15% |
| Very little effect | 54 | 14% |
| No effect at all | 12 | 3% |
| DK/Refused | 3 | 1% |
2. In your view, is the quality of the Federal workforce improving, declining, or staying about the same?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Improving | 91 | 24% | |
| Declining | 145 | 38% | |
| Staying about the same | 139 | 36% | |
| DK/Refused | 6 | 2% |
3a. AGREE/DISAGREE: Ethics laws and regulations have gone too far.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Agree | 121 | 32% | |
| Disagree | 233 | 61% | |
| DK/Refused | 27 | 7% |
3b. AGREE/DISAGREE: The Independent Counsel Law went too far and should be changed.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Agree | 251 | 66% | |
| Disagree | 70 | 18% | |
| DK/Refused | 60 | 16% |
3c. AGREE/DISAGREE: It used to be more rewarding and fun to work in the Federal government.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Agree | 237 | 62% | |
| Disagree | 111 | 29% | |
| DK/Refused | 33 | 9% | |
3 AGREE/DISAGREE: d. I will probably not be working in the Federal government three years from now.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Agree | 135 | 35% | |
| Disagree | 188 | 49% | |
| DK/Refused | 58 | 15% |
4. Do you feel that most federal government employees are paid too much, too little, or about right for their skill and experience level?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Too much | 17 | 4% | |
| About right | 191 | 50% | |
| Too little | 164 | 43% | |
| DK/Refused | 9 | 2% |
5. If you had it to do over, would you go to work for the Federal government?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Yes | 268 | 70% | |
| No | 113 | 30% | |
6. If a job in the private sector comparable to your current position in responsibility and pay were offered to you, would you accept it or not?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
| Yes | 151 | 40% | |
| No | 147 | 39% | |
| DK/Refused | 83 | 22% | |
7. Regarding the President and the impeachment inquiry, what do you think will be the outcome?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
|
The President will be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate |
6 | 2% | |
|
The President will be impeached by the House but not impeached by the Senate |
69 | 18% | |
|
The President will be censured but not impeached |
218 | 57% | |
|
The President will neither be impeached nor censured |
41 | 11% | |
| DK/Refused | 47 | 12% |
8. Of the same options, which outcome do you personally think is the just and proper one?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% | |
|
The President will be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate |
68 | 18% | |
|
The President will be impeached by the House but not impeached by the Senate |
17 | 4% | |
|
The President will be censured but not impeached |
157 | 41% | |
|
The President will neither be impeached nor censured |
104 | 27% | |
| DK/Refused | 35 | 9% |
9. Overall, how would you rate the performance of Republicans and Democrats in the 105th Congress in addressing issues facing the nation?
-- a. House Democrats.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 18 | 5% |
| Good | 117 | 31% |
| Not so good | 149 | 39% |
| Poor | 66 | 17% |
| DK/Refused | 31 | 8% |
-- b. House Republicans.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 8 | 2% |
| Good | 44 | 12% |
| Not so good | 105 | 28% |
| Poor | 193 | 51% |
| DK/Refused | 31 | 8% |
-- c. Senate Democrats.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 18 | 5% |
| Good | 124 | 33% |
| Not so good | 146 | 38% |
| Poor | 61 | 16% |
| DK/Refused | 32 | 8% |
-- d. Senate Republicans.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 10 | 3% |
| Good | 60 | 16% |
| Not so good | 130 | 34% |
| Poor | 150 | 39% |
| DK/Refused | 31 | 8% |
10. RATE LEADERSHIP ABILITY: a. Bill Clinton.
10. RATE LEADERSHIP ABILITY: b. Trent Lott.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 83 | 22% |
| Good | 165 | 43% |
| Not so good | 50 | 13% |
| Poor | 56 | 15% |
| DK/Refused | 27 | 7% |
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 8 | 2% |
| Good | 82 | 22% |
| Not so good | 137 | 36% |
| Poor | 101 | 27% |
| DK/Refused | 53 | 14% |
10. RATE LEADERSHIP ABILITY: c. Tom Daschle.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 18 | 5% |
| Good | 118 | 31% |
| Not so good | 123 | 32% |
| Poor | 28 | 7% |
| DK/Refused | 94 | 25% |
10. RATE LEADERSHIP ABILITY: d. Newt Gingrich.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 6 | 2% |
| Good | 72 | 19% |
| Not so good | 120 | 31% |
| Poor | 151 | 40% |
| DK/Refused | 32 | 8% |
10. RATE LEADERSHIP ABILITY: e. Dick Gephardt.
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Excellent | 18 | 5% |
| Good | 136 | 36% |
| Not so good | 117 | 31% |
| Poor | 57 | 15% |
| DK/Refused | 53 | 14% |
11. How do you think history will rank President Clinton -- as a great president, a good president, a somewhat successful but flawed president, or a failed president?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Great president | 14 | 4% |
| Good president | 74 | 19% |
|
Somewhat successful but flawed president |
243 | 64% |
| Failed president | 30 | 8% |
| DK/Refused | 20 | 5% |
12. On the whole, do you think it is a good idea or bad idea for the nation that the executive branch of government be held by one party and the Congress by another?
| TOTAL ANSWERING | 381 | 100% |
| Good idea | 189 | 50% |
| Bad idea | 108 | 28% |
| DK/Refused | 84 | 22% |
METHODOLOGY
From Oct. 22 to Oct. 26, Frederick Schneiders Research (FSR) invited approximately 10,000 top federal government executives and professionals to participate in a survey on leadership and government.
Three hundred eighty-one federal government executives and professionals completed the survey. The entire survey was conducted via the Internet using FSR's Internet-Based Interviewing (IBI) methodology.
Invitations were sent by e-mail and all surveys were completed on FSR's web site. The list of federal government executives and professionals was compiled by FSR based on grade and title from publicly available documents including published directories and Web site listings.
The margin of error for the entire sample is plus or minus five percent (5%) at the 95% confidence level.
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