Young people more likely to say rulings should be based on current meaning understanding Should the US Supreme Court base its rulings on its understanding of Supreme what the U.S. Constitution rulings current times originally written
About half of the public (46%) says the U.S. Supreme Court should make its rulings based on its understanding of what the Constitution “meant as it was originally written,” while an identical share says the court should base its rulings on what the Constitution “means in current times,” according to a survey conducted in October. Public opinion about this issue has changed little in recent years.
By about two-to-one (63% to 31%), adults younger than 30 say the court should base its rulings on its understanding of the Constitution’s current meaning, rather than what it meant when originally written. Views among those ages 30 to 49 are more divided (44% original meaning, 45% meaning in current times). A 54% majority of those 50 and older say rulings should be based on the court’s understanding of the Constitution’s original meaning.
Blacks (63%) are more likely than whites (41%) to say the court should base its rulings on its understanding of the Constitution’s current meaning. And adults with at least a college degree, particularly those with postgraduate degrees, are more likely than those with less education to express this view.
Young people more likely to say rulings  | should be based on current meaning  | understanding Should the US Supreme Court base its rulings on its  | understanding of Supreme what the U.S. Constitution rulings  | Means in Meant as  | current times originally written  | Total  | 46  | 46  | Men  | 41  | 52  | Women  | 50  | 41  | White  | 41  | 53  | Black  | 63  | 32  | Hispa nic  | 49  | 30  | 18-29  | 63  | 31  | 30-49  | 45  | 44  | 50-64  | 37  | 55  | 65+  | 40  | 53  | Postgrad  | 68  | 28  | College grad  | 53  | 43  | Some college  | 41  | 54  | HS or less  | 40  | 46  | White evang Prot  | 15  | 79  | White ma inline Prot  | 39  | 54  | Catholic  | 47  | 42  | Unaffliated  | 64  | 30  | Notes: Whites and blacks include onlythose who are notHispanic;  | Hispanics are ofany race. Other/Dontkknww responses notshown.  | Hispanics Source Survey ofany cond race. ucted Other/Dontkknww Oct. 20-25 2016  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 