This spring, the Partnership for Public Service solicited responses from over 1,400 members of the public to understand how they think our government can better serve them. The results were clear: Americans want the government to respond to their needs, serve the public good and solve complex problems.
Beyond identifying these expectations, however, the responses offered a deeper look into how Americans think about government itself, offering insights into future efforts at reform. Below are four additional insights from our analysis that can inform efforts to reimagine government.
Frustration with our government is focused on politics but largely nonpartisan
In today’s hyper-polarized environment, many conversations about government are filtered through partisan politics. However, we found that frustration with how government works extends far beyond any one party.
Members of the public expressed frustration with political leadership, but relatively few responses criticized or praised one political party or the other.
Instead, many described a system that they view as too divided to solve problems and criticized government leadership as a whole.
In fact, improving bipartisanship and increasing collaboration were among the most common themes, suggesting that dissatisfaction is directed more at the political system than at one party or the other.
Americans want broader representation in government because they believe it will lead to better outcomes
Increasing representation in the federal government was a top priority among members of the public, especially having leadership that is diverse in age and socioeconomic background.
However, many respondents focused on representation primarily as a mechanism for our government to improve its outcomes.
They argued that having leaders with a wide range of lived experiences would result in a government better able to address the issues facing a diverse nation. In other words, representation was seen as a way to improve the government’s ability to solve problems and address a broader range of them.
What members of the public think an effective government looks like varies
While members of the public want effective government, they do not necessarily define it same way.
For some respondents, effectiveness is viewed in terms of outcomes: An effective government is one that uses evidence-backed policies, implements standards for grant or program outcomes, and addresses problems at their root rather than relying on incremental fixes.
For others, it is about using resources efficiently, whether by better using public funds or by reducing spending more broadly. Still others indicated that effectiveness is a matter of focus—that an effective government is one that hones in on only the most vital or impactful issues.
Some specific reform ideas came up consistently across priorities for government
In the responses we received, a few specific reforms were mentioned especially frequently.
Many of these reforms were related to corruption, the separation of powers and transparency—proposals like overturning Citizens United, banning lobbying by corporations, implementing term or age limits for elected officials, and formalizing limits on the power of the presidency.
This finding may indicate a growing consensus about the steps needed to improve how our democracy functions or that these reforms have broken through a crowded media ecosystem to reach members of the public.
Conclusion
Taken together, these responses offer a window into how Americans think about the federal government and opportunities to rebuild it to better meet the needs of the public.
Despite differences in political affiliation and background, respondents often used a nonpartisan lens to view our government, focusing on whether it can work across differences, respond to the needs of a diverse nation and effectively address the issues that impact daily life.
For many people, the value of government is ultimately tied to its ability to work effectively for those it serves.