Assessing the Consequences of Politicized Confirmation Processes, 2005-2006

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The data collection represents a loose collaboration between Georgetown University's Center for Democracy and Civil Society (CDACS) and the European Social Survey (ESS). These data contain responses from three separate interviews referred to as Wave One (t1), Wave Two (t2), and Wave Three (t3). Wave One data are from the United States Citizenship, Involvement, Democracy (CID) Survey, and consisted of in-person interviews with a representative sample of 1,001 Americans. The CID survey is a study of American civic engagement, social capital, and democracy in comparative perspective, and it provides perspective on citizen participation in both the public and private realms. The CID survey is integrated with several elements of a module from the 2002 version of the ESS, which was administered in 22 European countries. In addition to the replicated questions from the ESS, the CID survey includes questions related to the themes of social capital, activities in formal clubs and organizations, informal social networks and activities, personal networks (strong and weak ties), the composition and diversity of ties and associations, trust (in other people, the community, institutions, and politicians), local democracy and participation, democratic values, political citizenship, social citizenship, views on immigration and diversity, political identifications, ideology, mobilization and action, and tolerance (concerning views and attitudes, least-likes groups, and racial stereotypes). Wave Two data was collected during the Alito Confirmation Process through re-interviews via telephone of 335 respondents who had completed the 2005 (Wave One) survey. Wave Three data was obtained after the Alito Confirmation Process, comprising re-interviews via telephone of 259 individuals who particpated in Wave Two. Both Wave Two and Wave Three included questions regarding respondents' political affiliations, views on politics and social issues, and trust in groups of people and institutions. In addition the survey queried respondents concerning their knowledge and opinion of the United States Supreme Court and Congress, Supreme Court judges, the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, as well as advertisements about the process, and their opinion on the rulings of the Supreme Court. Demographic variables include: Wave One - age, gender, race, marital status, religious affilitation and participation, highest level of education (respondent and respondent's partner), employment status (respondent and respondent's partner), income, nationality, and citizenship; Wave Two - has no demographic variables; Wave Three - age, gender, race, and religious affiliation and participation. Also included are attributes of the interviewer and interviewer observations.