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Nation-wide home interviews conducted December 4-5 2004 in 100 residencies in 44 regions. A sample size of 1500 respondents. Additional polls of the Moscow population, with a sample of 600 respondents. The margin of error does not exceed 3,6%.
On the threshold of Constitution Day, which is celebrated on December 12, the Public Opinion Foundation conducts a poll to find out how do Russians feel about this holiday. Our latest poll reveals that 30% of respondents consider this holiday to be "important and a significant day", while 62% don't consider this day to be important (8% found it difficult to express an opinion) ( Question: For some people, December 12th - Constitution Day - is a significant day, while for others it is not important. Which of these two views is closest to your own?).
In several previous polls devoted to this issue, we noted that people's attitudes towards the constitution are connected with their attitudes on the government. It seems that this tendency is somewhat linked to Constitution Day – this holiday is more often considered to be important by supporters of United Russia (35%). At the same time, LDPR supporters, followers of Rodina, and those who voted for a candidate other than Putin were more likely to say that Constitution Day is not important for them personally (76%, 71%, 68%, respectively).
When answering a question on whether the Constitution Day holiday is needed in principle (Question: Speaking in general, does Russia need Constitution Day, or not?), 48% say it is, while 38% hold the opposite opinion (14% couldn't answer question). Respondents between 18 and 35 (55%), residents of big cities (55%), and people with higher incomes (53%) were more likely than others to consider Constitution Day to be necessary.
As expected, respondents who consider Constitution Day to be important say the holiday is necessary, while those who are indifferent are far less likely to think so.
Question: In your opinion, does Russia need Constitution Day, or not?
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Total |
Question: For some people, December 12th – Constitution Day - is a significant day, while for others it is not important. Which of these two views is closest to your own? |
|
first |
Second |
hard to answer |
|
Shares of groups |
100 |
30 |
62 |
8 |
|
Yes |
48 |
88 |
32 |
23 |
|
No |
38 |
7 |
54 |
25 |
|
Hard to answer |
14 |
5 |
14 |
52 |
|
The distribution of answers to the following question: December 12 is Constitution Day. Do you regard it as a holiday or just an extra day-off?" shows us the real attitude of people towards this holiday. 64% see it only as an additional day off, while half as many - 21% - see it as a holiday. (14% were unable to answer). It is clear that those who consider this holiday to be unimportant were more likely to speak about it only as an additional day off. At the same time, those who consider Constitution Day to be "an important and significant" day were more likely to regard it as a holiday.
Question: December 12 is Constitution Day. Do you regard it as a holiday or just an extra day-off?
| |
Total |
Question: For some people, December 12th – Constitution Day - is a significant day, while for others it is not important. Which of these two views is closest to your own? |
|
first |
second |
hard to answer |
|
Shares of groups |
100 |
30 |
62 |
8 |
|
Holiday |
21 |
55 |
6 |
15 |
|
Extra day-off |
64 |
37 |
79 |
48 |
|
Hard to answer |
14 |
8 |
14 |
37 |
|
The State Duma recently passed a bill that makes Constitution Day a normal working day. Respondents' answers to a question (Question: The State Duma recently passed a bill that made Constitution Day a normal working day. Do you approve or disapprove of this move?) showed that 43% of them approve of this decision, while slightly fewer – 36% – disapprove, and 22% found it difficult to answer.
Naturally, those who consider Constitution Day to be a significant day were far less likely to approve of the Duma's decision than people who see the holiday as unimportant (24% against 53%).
Question: The State Duma recently passed a bill that made Constitution Day a normal working day. Do you approve or disapprove of this move?
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Total |
Question: For some people, December 12th – Constitution Day - is a significant day, while for others it is not important. Which of these two views is closest to your own? |
|
first |
second |
hard to answer |
|
Shares of groups |
100 |
30 |
62 |
8 |
|
approve |
43 |
24 |
53 |
32 |
|
disapprove |
36 |
59 |
26 |
25 |
|
Hard to answer |
22 |
17 |
21 |
43 |
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More than half of those surveyed (52%) found it difficult to answer an open-ended question on why Constitution Day is celebrated. Two percent of those surveyed say the holiday is celebrated according to habit ("a holiday is a holiday, and that's it"). Other respondents divided into two groups: those who see a certain meaning in celebrating Constitution Day, and those who consider the holiday to be meaningless.
Only 4% of those surveyed noted that December 12 marks the date when "the main law of the land" was adopted, and this event should be celebrated:
- "this is the date of the adoption of our constitution, so it is important holiday"; "the main law of the Russian Federation was adopted on that day"; "the day of the adoption of the constitution should be widely know"
(answers to an open-ended question).
Another 18% of respondents think that celebrating Constitution Day might improve awareness of the laws of the country and increase the importance of the constitution itself:
- "to know about and recall our constitution"; "the state should remind people about the constitution and their constitutional rights"; "for order – to know the laws:; "to let young people know about what the constitution is"; "to respect the law"
(answers to an open-ended question).
Another 2% say that Constitution Day is a symbol of democracy:
- "for supporting democracy in the country", "to remember that we live in a law-based state"
(answers to an open-ended question).
Yet another 2% say that Constitution Day draws people together and increases their patriotic feelings:
- "to feel yourself a citizen of your own country"; "to increase the patriotic feelings of citizens"
(answers to an open-ended question),
Some people (3%) think Constitution Day is a day for showing respect for the state, while other see it as "the second Independence Day":
- "Any state should respect itself and celebrate such a holiday"; "the second Independence Day of Russia"; "this is a symbol of the new Russia"
(answers to an open-ended question).
As for respondents who are skeptical about Constitution Day, they were most likely to argue from real life. Celebrating such a holiday in the state where the constitution doesn't work is nonsense, they say:
- "Why celebrate it? I don't know, as the constitution is neither respected nor observed in our country"; "the constitution is for the people, and this means the holiday is for the people, too. But our constitution doesn't work"; "since laws are not observed, this holiday is not needed"
(answers to an open-ended question, 9%).
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