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.