Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/96151673575
Zachary Jaffe
Zachary is a Sophomore at Wesleyan University from Bethesda, Maryland, prospectively majoring in Government with a concentration in American Politics.
Abstract: There is a lack of research on how sentiments on the Supreme Court affect voters’ desire for a strong or more authoritarian president who is less impeded by checks and balances. Supreme Court approval ratings have recently dropped to a near-historic low of 48% after the confirmation of Justice Amy Barrett (Copeland, 2025). This study examined the relationship between disapproval of the Supreme Court and voter desire for a powerful executive while controlling for perceptions of the nation’s general condition. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were conducted using data from the pre-election 2024 Annual National Election Survey (ANES). The results revealed no statistically significant relationship between Supreme Court disapproval and increased desire for a strong president. However, perceptions of the nation’s general condition (positive or negative) moderate this relationship significantly. Those who perceive the country as healthy and approve of the Court are associated with a much stronger desire for a strong president than those who disapprove of the Court. For those who perceive the nation as healthy, Supreme Court sentiment is associated with a slight increase in desire for a strong executive. These results may provide valuable insight into why voters make the presidential voting decisions that they do. Additionally, this study provides a foundation for further research into how institutional trust influences voters amid differing national conditions.