Codebook to Accompany the Instructional Subset of the 1996 Field Poll (FI 9604)
Opinion of the California Legislature

JeDon Emenhiser Humboldt State University
John L. Korey Calif State Polytechnic University Pomona

© The Authors, 1998; Last Modified 16 August 1998

The data and codebook for this instructional subset were extracted by JeDon Emenhiser, Humboldt State University, and John L. Korey, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, from material provided by the Field Institute. The material was downloaded from the Social Science Data Base Archive August 26, 1997. For complete documentation visit the SSDBA Web Site or contact your campus ICPSR Official Representative.

Study ID: FI9604
Title: California Field Poll, August-September, 1996
Author: Field Institute
The Field (California) Poll 96-04
The Field Institute/The California Poll
Universe: California Adults
Interviewing Periods: August 29 - September 7, 1996
Method Of Interview: Telephone
Number Of Cases: 1023

1. PCALEG -- Performance of California Legislature
What kind of job do you think the California State Legislature is doing overall: a very good, good, fair, poor or very poor job?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
5	1	Very Good
106	2	Good
212	3	Fair
97	4	Poor
33	5	Very Poor
60	8	No Opinion
510	9	Not Applicable (Not Form A)
____
1023	Total

2. PCAGOV -- Performance of California Governor
What kind of job do you think Pete Wilson is doing as governor of California - a very good, good, fair, poor or very poor job?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
18	1	Very Good
115	2	Good
177	3	Fair
84	4	Poor
99	5	Very Poor
20	8	No Opinion
510	9	Not Applicable (Not Form A)
____
1023	Total

3. PUSCONG -- Performance of U.S. Congress
What kind of job do you think the U.S. Congress is doing overall: a very good, good, fair, poor or very poor job?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
16	1	Very Good
107	2	Good
185	3	Fair
129	4	Poor
57	5	Very Poor
19	8	No Opinion
510	9	Not Applicable (Not Form A)
____
1023	Total

4. PUSPRES -- Performance of U.S. President
Overall, what kind of job do you think Bill Clinton is doing as president of the U.S.: a very good, good, fair, poor, or very poor job?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
75	1	Very Good
161	2	Good
180	3	Fair
44	4	Poor
48	5	Very Poor
5	8	No Opinion
510	9	Not Applicable (Not Form A)
____
1023	Total

5. COUNTRY -- Opinion of Country Overall
Looking at the country overall, do you think things in this country are generally going in the right direction, or do feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
206	1	Right Direction
261	2	Wrong Track
46	8	No Opinion
510	9	Not Applicable (Not Form A)
____
1023	Total

6. VOTHOUSE -- Party Vote for U.S. House
There will be an election for the U.S. House of Representatives in your district in the November general election. If you were voting in your district's congressional election, would you be inclined to vote for the Democratic candidate, the Republican candidate or a candidate from one of the minor parties?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
171	1	Democrat
132	2	Republican
23	3	Other
90	8	No Opinion
607	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC and not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996 or not Form B)
____
1023	Total

7. VOTCAASM -- Party Vote for California Assembly
If the 1996 election for the California state assembly were being held today, would you be inclined to vote for the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district?

N Of Cases	Value	Value Label
183	1	Democrat
132	2	Republican
10	3	Other
91	8	No Opinion
607	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC and not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996 or not Form B)
____
1023	Total

8. VOTCASEN -- Party Vote for California Senate
If an election for the California state senate were being held in your district this year and you were voting today, would you be inclined to vote for the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
191	1	Democrat
136	2	Republican
9	3	Other
80	8	No Opinion
607	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC and not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996 or not Form B)
____
1023	Total

9. CONGCLIN -- If Clinton elected, What Party Congress Let's suppose that in the presidential election in November, Bill Clinton, the Democrat, is re-elected. If this occurs, do you think it would be better to elect more Republicans to Congress to balance the election of a Democratic president or do you think that it would be better to elect more Democrats to Congress to help advance President Clinton's programs and policies?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
169	1	Elect More Republicans
190	2	Elect More Democrats
26	3	Depends
31	8	No Opinion
607	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC and not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996 or not Form B)
____
1023	Total

10. CONGDOLE -- If Dole Election, What Party Congress
Let's suppose that in the presidential election in November, Bob Dole, the Republican, is elected. If this occurs, do you think it would be better to elect more Democrats to Congress to balance the election of a Republican president or do you think that it would be better to elect more Republicans to Congress to help advance the new president's programs and policies?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
233	1	Elect More Democrats
136	2	Elect More Republicans
24	3	Depends
23	8	No Opinion
607	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC and not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996 or not Form B)
____
1023	Total

11. VOTLEGPOL -- Voters or Legislature on Government Policy
Voting on propositions allows voters to make decisions on state government laws and policies. Another way to make state laws and policies is through our elected representatives in the state legislature. Which do you feel generally enacts more coherent and well-thought-out government policies -- elected representatives in the legislature or the voting public through proposition measures?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
384	1	Elected Representatives
451	2	Voting Public
63	3	Both
44	4	Neither
81	8	No Opinion
____
1023	Total

12. VOTLEGTAL -- Voters or Legislature on Technical and Legal Matters
Which do you feel is better suited to decide upon highly technical or legal policy matters -- elected representatives in the legislature or the voting public through proposition measures?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
502	1	Elected Representatives
375	2	Voting Public
56	3	Both
26	4	Neither
64	8	No Opinion
____
1023	Total

13. VOTLEGREV -- Voters or Legislature Review Each Aspect
Which do you feel gives more thorough review to each particular aspect of a proposed law -- elected representatives in the legislature or the voting public through proposition measures?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
466	1	Elected Representatives
395	2	Voting Public
54	3	Both
23	4	Neither
85	8	No Opinion
____
1023	Total

14. VOTLEGLARG -- Voters or Legislature on Large-Scale Projects
Which do you feel is better suited to decide upon large scale government programs and projects -- elected representatives in the legislature or the voting public through proposition measures?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
312	1	Elected Representatives
562	2	Voting Public
63	3	Both
19	4	Neither
67	8	No Opinion
____
1023	Total

15. VOTLEGSIG -- Voters or Legislature and Special Interest Groups
Which do you feel is more influenced by special interest groups -- elected representatives in the legislature or the voting public through proposition measures?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
580	1	Elected Representatives
292	2	Voting Public
80	3	Both
6	4	Neither
65	8	No Opinion
____
1023	Total

16.VOTLEGTRST -- Voters or Legislature and Trust
Which do you feel can be trusted more often to do what is right on important government issues -- elected representatives in the legislature or the voting public through proposition measures?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
198	1	Elected Representatives
655	2	Voting Public
50	3	Both
45	4	Neither
75	8	No Opinion
____
1023	Total

17. REGPLAC -- Where Registered to Vote
Some people are registered to vote, while others are not. How about you? Are you registered to vote in the precinct where you now live, are you registered to vote somewhere else, or are you not registered to vote?

N of Cases	Value	Value Label
766	1	Registered Where Lives
33	2	Registered Somewhere Else
107	3	Not Registered
6	8	No Answer
111	9	Not Applicable ('No' Or 'Refused' on CITIZEN)
____
1023	Total

18. REGPARTY -- Already Registered by Party Affiliation
Are you currently registered to vote as a Republican, a Democrat or just what? (if respondent says Independent, ask:) suppose you were voting in a primary election, in which party's primary election would you vote?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
298	1	Republican
356	2	Democrat
1	3	Peace and Freedom
15	4	American Independent
6	5	Libertarian
4	6	Green
4	7	Reform
1	8	Natural Law
55	9	Non-Partisan/Will Register As "Decline To State"
26	98	Don't Know/Refused
257	99	Not Applicable (Not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC)
____
1023	Total

19. REGLIKELY -- Likelihood of Registering to Vote for November 1996
There will be a presidential election in November. How likely do you think it is that you will register to vote for this year's election at the address where you now live: very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely or not at all likely?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
60	1	Very Likely
13	2	Somewhat Likely
14	3	Not Too Likely
49	4	Not At All Likely
10	8	No Opinion
877	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Somewhere Else' or not 'Not Registered' or not 'No Answer' on REGPLAC)
____
1023	Total

20. REGPARLIK -- Likelihood of Registering Party Affiliation
Would you register to vote as a Republican, a Democrat or just what?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
19	1	Republican
36	2	Democrat
1	3	Peace and Freedom
1	4	American Independent
8	9	Non-Partisan/Will Register As "Decline To State"
8	98	Don't Know/Refused
950	99	Not Applicable (not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996)
____
1023	Total

21. PARTY -- Party
Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat, an Independent or what?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
270	1	Republican
397	2	Democrat
249	3	Independent
72	4	No Preference
12	5	Other
23	8	Don't Know
____
1023	Total

22. PARTSTGTH -- Party Strength
Would you call yourself a strong or not very strong (Republican)(Democrat)?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
155	1	Strong Republican
111	2	Not Very Strong Republican
161	3	Not Very Strong Democrat
221	4	Strong Democrat
19	8	Don't Know
356	9	Not Applicable (not 'Republican' or not 'Democrat' on PARTY)
____
1023	Total

23. PARTLEAN -- Independents Lean Republican or Democratic
Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican or the Democratic party?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
94	1	Republican Party
150	2	Democratic Party
85	3	Neither
27		Don't Know
667	9	Not Applicable ('Republican' or 'Democrat' on PARTY)
____
1023	Total

24. IDEOL -- Ideology
Generally speaking, in politics do you consider yourself as conservative, liberal, middle- of-the-road, or don't you think of yourself in these terms?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
249	1	Conservative
184	2	Liberal
320	3	Middle-Of-The-Road
237	4	Don't Think Of Self In These Terms
33	8	Don't Know
____
1023	Total

25. IDEOLSTGTH -- Strength of Ideology
Do you consider yourself a strong or not very strong (conservative)(liberal)?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
149	1	Strong Conservative
94	2	Not Very Strong Conservative
72	3	Not Very Strong Liberal
106	4	Strong Liberal
12	8	Don't Know
590	9	Not Applicable (not 'Conservative' Or not 'Liberal' On IDEOL)
____
1023	Total

26. VOTHIST -- Voting History
In statewide elections since you have been old enough to vote, would you say that you have voted in all of them, most of them, some of them or none of them?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
338	1	all of them
315	2	most of them
134	3	some of them
51	4	none of them
1	8	no answer
184	9	not applicable (not 'registered where lives' on REGPLAC and not 'very likely' or not 'somewhat likely' on REG1996)
____
1023	Total

27. VOTLIKELY -- Likelihood of Voting in November 1996
What is the likelihood that you will vote in the November 1996 general election in California? Will you definitely vote, probably vote, might or might not vote, or probably not vote?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
717	1	Definitely
86	2	Probably
22	3	Might/Might Not
11	4	Probably Not
3	8	No Answer
184	9	Not Applicable (not 'Registered Where Lives' on REGPLAC and not 'Very Likely' or not 'Somewhat Likely' on REG1996)
____
1023	Total

28. GENDER -- Male or Female

N of cases	Value	Value Label
491	1	Male
532	2	Female
____
1023	Total

29. ETHNIC -- Ethnicity
Coded ethnicity

N of cases	Value	Value Label
631	1	White (non-Latin)
241	2	Latin
51	3	Black
55	4	Asian
23	5	Other
22	9	Refused
____
1023	Total

30. AGE -- Age
What is your age?

Exact Age Coded

31. EDUC -- Education
What is the highest grade or year of school that you have finished and gotten credit for? (if 4 years of college/university, probe:) did you graduate from college and receive your bachelor's degree?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
43	1	8th Grade Or Less
54	2	Some High School
227	3	Graduated High School
24	4	Trade School/Vocational School
245	5	1-2 Years College Or University
95	6	3-4 Years College Or University
180	7	Graduated College-Bachelors
36	8	5-6 Years College Or University
78	9	Masters Degree
38	10	Graduate Work Past Masters Degree
3	98	Don't Know/No Answer
____
1023	Total

32. MARRIED -- Marital Status
Which of the following best describes your present marital status?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
519	1	Married
56	2	Not Married But Living Together
146	3	Separated Or Divorced
87	4	Widowed
210	5	Never Married
5	8	Refused
____
1023	Total

33. BIRTHPLAC -- Birth Place
Were you born in California, in some other state in the U.S., or outside the United States?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
418	1	In California
395	2	Other U.S. State
210	3	Outside U.S.
____
1023	Total

34. CITIZEN -- Citizenship of Those Born Outside U.S.

Are you currently a U.S. citizen or not?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
99	1	yes
109	2	no
2	8	refused
813	9	not applicable (not 'outside u.s.' on Q8a)
____
1023	Total

35. CNTYRES -- County of Residence
In what county do you live?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
44	1	Alameda
12	4	Butte
3	5	Calavaras
1	6	Colusa
19	7	Contra Costa
4	9	El Dorado
16	10	Fresno
8	12	Humboldt
5	13	Imperial
1	14	Inyo
13	15	Kern
1	16	Kings
3	17	Lake
7	18	Lassen
293	19	Los Angeles
6	20	Madera
8	21	Marin
5	23	Mendocino
9	24	Merced
1	25	Modoc
12	27	Monterey
4	28	Napa
1	29	Nevada
85	30	Orange
3	31	Placer
1	32	Plumas
44	33	Riverside
37	34	Sacramento
2	35	San Benito
36	36	San Bernadino
82	37	San Diego
32	38	San Francisco
21	39	San Joaquin
7	40	San Luis Obispo
20	41	San Mateo
15	42	Santa Barbara
53	43	Santa Clara
8	44	Santa Cruz
2	45	Shasta
2	46	Sierra
5	47	Siskiyou
16	48	Solano
22	49	Sonoma
12	50	Stanislaus
2	51	Sutter
4	52	Tehama
6	54	Tulare
2	55	Tuolumne
25	56	Ventura
3	57	Yolo
____
1023	Total

36. ZIP -- Zip Code

Exact zip code coded

37. RELIGION -- Religious Preference
What, if any, is your religious preference--Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, or some other faith?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
439	1	Protestant
291	2	Roman Catholic
30	3	Jewish
176	4	No Preference/No Religion
55	5	Other
32	8	Don't Know
____
1023	Total

38. RELIMPORT -- Importance of Religion
How important would you say religion is in your own life--very important, fairly important or not very important?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
487	1	Very Important
285	2	Fairly Important
236	3	Not Very Important
15	8	No Answer
____
1023	Total

39. BORNAGAIN -- Born Again Christian
Would you say that you have been 'born again' or have had a 'born again' experience--that is, a turning point in your life when you committed yourself to Christ?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
325	1	Yes, Born Again
650	2	No, Not Born Again
48	8	No Answer
____
1023	Total

40. INCOME -- Income
Now, we don't want to know your exact income, but just roughly, could you tell me if your annual household income before taxes is under $20,000, $20,000 to $40,000, $40,000 to $60,000, $60,000 to $80,000 or more than $80,000?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
237	1	Under $20,000
309	2	$20,000-$40,000
190	3	$40,000-$60,000
94	4	$60,000-$80,000
132	5	More Than $80,000
61	8	Refused
____
1023	Total

41. OWNRENT -- Own or Rent Residence

Do you own or rent here?

N of cases	Value	Value Label
568	1	Own
435	2	Rent
20	8	No Answer
____
1023	Total

42. WGHT -- Weights

*** Note: a decimal is located in column 6/73. The sample weights are an integral part of this data set and must be applied when running tabulations from this data file.