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(Please see also the National
Youth Survey 2004)
March 4, 2002: CIRCLE, in collaboration with the
Center for Democracy and Citizenship and the Partnership
for Trust in Government at the Council for Excellence
in Government, released a survey of 1,500 Americans between
the ages of 15 and 25 and their views toward civic life
and institutions. The survey shows that the impact of
September 11 on civic behavior and intentions is mixed,
but opportunities for greater participation exist. Analysis
of the importance of parental involvement, volunteerism,
partisanship and other factors in determining civic engagement
provides lessons for candidates and has implications for
policy.
Click to see:
Lake Snell Perry & Associates, with The Tarrance
Group, designed and administered the survey, which was
conducted by telephone from January 6 through January
17, 2002. The survey reached 1,500 young people between
the ages of 15 and 25 nationwide. The poll has a variable
margin of error of 2.5%.
Highlights
September 11
69% say the events of September 11 make them more favorable
towards government.
67% say the events of September 11 make them more likely
to participate in politics and voting.
62% say they trust the government to do what is right.
44% would be more likely to work for a community service
organization after September 11 (vs. 17% less likely).
34% would be more likely to choose law enforcement or
firefighting as a career (vs. 25% less likely).
But…
66% claim voter registration (down from 70% in 1998).
31% would be less likely to join the military (28% more
likely) and 28% are less likely to run for political office
(17% more likely).
Political Engagement and Voting
80% are unlikely to work for local government and 75%
are unlikely to work for the federal government.
57% say they are unlikely to run for an elected leadership
position (vs. 32% in 1998), 53% are unlikely to work for
a political party, 50% are unlikely to join a political
organization, and 46% are unlikely to volunteer in a political
campaign.
50% say voting is important (49% not important).
34% see voting as a choice vs. 20% a responsibility and
only 9% a duty.
Only 53% say government and elections address their needs
and concerns, and only 48% say political leaders pay attention
to the concerns of young people.
Only 46% say they can make a difference in solving community
problems (52% little or no difference).
Parental Impact
Only 50% say they discussed politics, government or current
events with their parents (down from 57 % in 1998). 19%
say “never” vs. 15% “often.”
Of those who grew up with political discussion in the
home, 75% are registered to vote (vs. 57% rate of registration
among those who did not have political discussion in the
home); 71% trust government (vs. 53%); 68% believe voting
is important (vs. 33%); 57% believe politicians pay attention
to their concerns (vs. 39%); and 56% believe they can
make a difference solving community problems (vs. 37%).
Volunteering
72% of young adults say they have donated money, clothes
or food to a community or church group (86% of young adults
said they had done so in 1998).
49% see volunteering for community activities as most
important vs. 12% for participating in politics and government.
37% never volunteer (up from 27% in 2000), 31% volunteer
occasionally (down from 38% in 2000), and 27% volunteer
at least once a month (down from 30% in 2000).
33% who grew up with political discussion in their home
volunteer at least once per month (vs. 22% who did not
have political discussion in their home).
30% volunteer because they were asked by a church (17%)
or a person (13%), 24% because it makes them feel good,
and 21% because it makes a difference. Only 6% say because
they are required to by their school.
Impact of Church-Going
70% of devout, occassional church-going and born again
young adults trust government to do what is right, far
more than non-church goers (50%).
64% of devout young adults say voting is extremely or
very important (vs. 37% of non-church goers.)
Impact of Partisanship
78% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans are registered
to vote (vs. 58% of independents).
A third of all Republicans volunteer at least once a month
and 29% of Democrats do (vs. 25% of independents).
64% of Republicans say it is important to vote, versus
58% of Democrats and 43% of independents.
63% of Republicans and 59% of conservatives say the Bush
presidency makes them more likely to participate in politics
and government.
Efficacy
85% believe their votes count as much as anyone else’s,
but 71% believe candidates would rather talk to older,
wealthier people than to younger people.
62% of college graduates and 55% of 18 to 25 year olds
in college feel they can make a difference.
Only 41% of 15 to 17 year olds believe they can make a
difference (and only 35% of those who are not planning
to attend college believe they can make a difference).
50% believe someone like them cannot have a real impact
on solving community problems (vs. 45% who believe they
can).
49% strongly believe politics is about politicians competing
to get elected vs. 32% who believe politics is the way
average people get their say in government.
Lessons for Candidates
Only 53% believe politics, elections and government address
their concerns.
65% say issue stands are the first or second most important
consideration in choosing a candidate.
Young adults want a candidate that “face powerful
interests and stand up for what they believe is right”
(83 mean on a 1-100 scale), calls for a debate at a local
high school or college (79), “…who speaks to
issues of particular concern to young people…”
(78), and “…is experienced in politics and can
get things done” (78).
Jobs and the economy (17%), terrorism and national security
(14%) and crime and violence (12%) comprise the top tier
of the issue concerns of young adults.
Policy Implications
81% favor a year of national or community service to
earn money toward college or advanced training.
66% favor requiring civics and government classes in high
school.
61% would favor a new draft that gives people a choice
between civilian or military service.
53% favor service in return for federal financial aid.
55% oppose requiring community service in order to graduate
from high school.
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