State of the First Amendment 2001 [United States]

Produced By: Center for Survey Research and Analysis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut

Funding Agency/Sponsor: Freedom Forum

Author: The First Amendment Center

Abstract (CPANDA): The State of the First Amendment survey, conducted annually (since 1997, except for 1998) for the First Amendment Center by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut, examines public attitudes toward freedom of speech, press, religion and the rights of assembly and petition. Core questions, asked each year, include awareness of First Amendment freedoms, overall assessments of whether there is too much or too little freedom of speech, press, and religion in the U.S., levels of tolerance for various types of public expression (such as flag-burning and singing songs with potentially offensive lyrics), levels of tolerance for various journalistic behaviors, attitudes toward prayer in schools, and level of support for amending the Constitution to prohibit flag-burning or defacement. Additional (non-core) questions asked in the 2001 survey include attitudes toward the creation of the federal Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and attitudes toward the regulation of political campaign contributions.

Methodology (CPANDA) : The Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut conducted a total of 1,012 telephone interviews with a random national sample of adults ages 18 and over, between May 16 and June 6, 2001.