Polls & Research

NSA Wiretaps Still Divide Views in U.S.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - American adults remain split over their federal government's decision to authorize the use of electronic surveillance to monitor phone calls and e-mails within the United States without first getting a court warrant to do so, according to a poll by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times. 48 per cent of respondents think the practice is acceptable, while 47 per cent disagree.

In December, U.S. president George W. Bush defended a secret domestic electronic surveillance program that includes the wiretapping of the telephone calls and e-mails of Americans suspected of having terrorist ties. The president's remarks came in response to media reports that, since 2002, Bush has authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to operate this program without any judicial oversight.

Last month, Democratic Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold officially introduced a resolution to censure Bush, saying, "The president has broken the law and the censure resolution (...) is intended to hold him accountable." The resolution must be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. 46 per cent of respondents support the censure motion, while 45 per cent disagree.

Democratic Michigan congressman John Conyers—who has been mentioned as a possible House Judiciary Committee chairman if the Democrats regain control of Congress this year—has suggested creating a committee to look into impeaching the president. 56 per cent of respondents think the NSA wiretaps do not constitute an impeachable offence.

In the U.S., the federal process for impeachment begins with a vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trial in the Senate. Only two American presidents—Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998—have been impeached by the lower house. Both Johnson and Clinton were later acquitted by the upper house. In April 1974, Richard Nixon resigned after impeachment hearings had started.

In 1834, Andrew Jackson became the only U.S. president to be censured for removing the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Senate. Earlier this month, former North Carolina senator and 2004 Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards declared, "I think that George Bush deserves to be censured."

Polling Data

As you may know, George W. Bush authorized federal government agencies to use electronic surveillance to monitor phone calls and emails within the United States without first getting a court warrant to do so. Do you consider this an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism?

As you may also know, a U.S. Senator has called for a Senate resolution to censure George W. Bush, which is a formal expression of disapproval, but does not carry any legal consequences. The Senator claims it was illegal for Bush to authorize government agencies to use electronic surveillance to monitor American citizens without a court warrant. What do you think? Do you think that George W. Bush should be censured by the Senate for this, or not?

If George W. Bush broke the law when he authorized government agencies to use electronic surveillance to monitor American citizens without a court warrant, do you think that is an impeachable offence, or not an impeachable offence?