Most Americans see corruption as a serious issue within many different professions. Members of Congress and U.S. Presidents top the list of concerns. Also on the list: corporate leadership, media, law enforcement, and prison systems. Views differ sharply between the two main political parties, particularly about political figures, journalists and supreme court justices.
A survey by YouGov, asked Americans about 25 occupations and found that Americans are most likely to view corruption as a serious problem among members of the U.S. Government. Particularly among members of Congress, followed by Presidents. Many also say there is a problem among CEOS, healthcare executives, finance and the media. It’s also considered a problem within law enforcement and prison officials.
Doctors, professional athletes and professors are least likely to be identified as having a corruption problem. Even in these groups, at least a third of those surveyed say that corruption is a very or somewhat serious problem.
When it comes to supreme court justices, Democrats are twice as likely asRepublicans to say that corruption is a serious or somewhat serious problem. (80% vs 40%). They are also more worried about corruption within religious leaders, police officers and other roles in law enforcement.
Republicans are far more likely to believe that there is a serious problem with corruption among journalists than Democrats (66% vs 37%). Republicans are also more concerned with corruption among university presidents, professors, government employees and union leaders.
The parties have equal concerns about corruption in the presidency and congress in general, but their views differ with the people in these roles from the parties. Eight in 10 Democrats and Republicans believe that corruption is a very or somewhat serious issue from the other party’s president, the shares are similar when it comes to members of congress. Only 25% will say its a problem among their own presidents and congressional representatives. When it comes to the supreme court, Democrats are more concerned about corruption with justices appointed by Republican Presidents than Republicans are about Democrat appointees.
A follow up survey found that most Americans believe a member of congress would be likely to engage in one form of corruption, if given the chance: bribery. 68% think a representative would be very or somewhat likely to accept a bribe if offered one. 69% say Mayors of towns would, and 62% say governors would be susceptible. Fewer, but still nearly half of Americans say a that a U.S. President (45%) or Supreme Court Justice(44%) could be successfully bribed.
Democrats were more likely than Republicans to think that Presidents and Supreme Court Justices are likely to take bribes. They diverge more on the current and former Presidents likelihood to take a bribe. 73% of Republicans say that it is likely that former President Joe Biden could be bribed, 77% of Democrats think it is likely Trump could be. Democrats are more likely to think Biden could be bribed than Republicans are to think Trump could be (20% vs 12%).
The parties have similar views when it comes to the likelihood of a member of congress, mayor, or governor being bribed, with majorities saying they are very or somewhat likely to do so.