In Government We Trust?

Critical Analysis

1. According What percent of Americans trust the federal government always or most of the time?

2. How accurate was your prediction?

3. What story does the chart tell?

4. During which presidential administration did the US government suffer the biggest loss in public trust?

5. Do you trust the federal government always or most of the time?

6. Describe two reasons for the overall loss of public trust in the US government.

7. What are two consequences of the current level of public trust in the US government?

8. Is the information from this chart bad or good news?

9. Explain how much the media impacts public trust of the government?

10. What is one thing the federal government could do to change public trust?

11. How do you think this lack of public trust impacts voter turnout?

12. What do you imagine public trust in the government will be like after four more years of Trump?

13. List three historical events that have lowered trust in government over the time frame of the chart?

14. Are there any historical events that have raised trust in government over the time frame of the chart?

15. Write one question you have about this chart:

16. In the comments section, describe an encounter you had with the federal government and how that interaction affected your trust in the government.

17. Look at the interactive charts below and explain how the following characteristics impact public trust in the government:

    Party

    Age

    Race

Learning Extension

Read the Pew Research Center Report on the decline in trust in the US government.

Action Extension

Contact a representative of the federal government by calling your U.S. Senators or US House Representative at the capitol switchboard - (202) 224-3121, or the President - (202) 456-1111, and suggest one thing the federal government could do to restore public trust.

Visual Extension

Waffles