Washington Post Federal Election Commission Poll, January 1997

This special topic poll, conducted January 14-19, 1996, is
part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public
opinion on the presidency and on a range of political and social
issues. The focus of this data collection was campaign finance laws
and the pending reform of those laws. Respondents were asked for their
opinion and level of knowledge on campaign finance laws, use of
campaign funds, the federal government's campaign finance activities,
and the public funding of federal elections. Additional topics covered
various proposals for campaign finance reform, special interest group
contributions, restrictions on political advertising, and the reasons
why people contribute to campaigns. Respondents were also asked for
their political contribution history, and for their opinions on the
influence and access that political contributors gain from their
contributions. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education
level, employment status, household income, political party
affiliation, political orientation, and voter registration status and
participation history.