Public Favors Keeping Filibuster Rule in U.S. Senate

Public Favors Keeping Filibuster Rule in U.S. Senate: "A review of recent public opinion data on this issue suggests four conclusions:

1. The filibuster debate per se has not attracted the attention of the majority of the American public. It is not a high-salience issue to rank-and-file Americans.
2. When the filibuster situation is explained to Americans, the majority appear to favor keeping the rule in place. A plurality also favors the Democratic approach over the Republican approach to the issue.
3. Americans following the filibuster situation closely are more likely to favor keeping it in place than are those who are not following it as closely. Republicans and those who attend church most frequently are more likely to oppose the filibuster rule than are independents, Democrats, and those who do not attend church as frequently.
4. One unanticipated consequence of the rancorous debate appears to be a general diminution of Congress' status, as well as that of both parties in Congress, in the eyes of the American public."