American Public Opinion on Impeachment and High Crimes

A new Ipsos survey of the American public conducted on behalf of PerryUndem and Vox finds that while a small majority (56%) of Americans believe in removing from office elected officials who engage in unethical behavior a large majority (71%) supports removing officials who break the law or abuse the power of their offices.

In a testament to the low regard Americans have for elected officials, a majority (54%) believe half or more of elected officials engage in unethical behavior and a similar number (50%) believe half or more of elected officials break the law or abuse their offices.

Combining these two findings together and it is not surprising that a large majority (78%) view impeachment as an important tool for our democracy.

Focusing on how the public defines “high crimes and misdemeanors,” large, bipartisan majorities say that the following qualify:

• Abusing the powers of your office for personal enrichment – 88%
• Misuse of public funds or assets – 87%
• Abusing the powers of your office for political advantage – 80%
• Negligence of the oath of office – 76%
• Dishonesty to the American people – 63%

However, when it comes to the President “pressuring another country to investigate a political rival,” the results return with a massive partisan split with Democrats overwhelmingly agreeing it is “morally wrong” (89%) and “a high crime and misdemeanor” (77%) with very few Republicans agreeing to the same (39% and 22% respectively). Conversely, most Republicans (65%) think this is “something presidents do all the time”.

About the Study

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between November 5-6, 2019, on behalf of Vox and PerryUndem. For this survey, a sample of roughly 1,007 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 425 Republicans, 394 Democrats, and 104 Independents.  

The sample for this study was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel (see link below for more info on “Access Panels and Recruitment”), partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling (see link below for more info on the Ipsos “Ampario Overview” sample method) and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2016 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Posthoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education. 

Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,007, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5.0 percentage points).

The poll also has a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points for Republicans, plus or minus 5.6 percentage points for Democrats, and plus or minus 11.0 percentage points for Independents.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson
Vice President, US
Public Affairs
+1 202 420-2025
[email protected]

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