Partisan, ideological divides on how Supreme Court should base its rulings % who say the Supreme Courtshould base its rulings on
About three-quarters of conservative Republicans (77%) continue to say the Supreme Court should base its rulings on the Constitution’s original meaning rather than its meaning in current times (21%). But moderate and liberal Republicans are more divided: 50% favor an interpretation based on the Constitution’s original meaning, compared with 46% who say the court should base its rulings on a current interpretation.
Ideological differences are less pronounced among Democrats. Liberal Democrats (88%) overwhelmingly say the Supreme Court should base its rulings on the Constitution’s meaning in current times, as do a majority (70%) of conservative and moderate Democrats.
Views on constitutional interpretation also vary by age, even within both partisan coalitions. Americans 50 and older are divided, with 47% saying the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution currently means and 49% saying they favor an interpretation based on the document’s original meaning. But among Americans younger than 50, 64% say the high court should base rulings on the Constitution’s current meaning, compared with 33% who say decisions should be based on the original meaning.
Partisan, ideological divides on how  | Supreme Court should base its rulings  | % who say the Supreme Courtshould base its rulings on  | what the Constitution  | Meant as Meansin  | originally written  | current times  | Total  | 41  | 55  | 18-29  | 33  | 64  | 30-49  | 34  | 64  | 50-64  | 47  | 49  | 65+  | 51  | 42  | Rep/Lean Rep  | 30  | 67  | Dem/Lean Dem  | 18  | 78  | Among Rep/Lean Rep  | Conse rvative  | 21  | Mod/ Lib  | 50  | 46  | 18-49  | 61  | 36  | 50+  | 72  | 24  | Among Dem/Lean Dem  | Consy Mod  | 26  | 70  | Liberal  | 88  | 18-49  | 12  | 86  | 50+  | 24  | 70  | Note Source Don Survev It know ofu.s responses notshown.  | Source Survev ofu.s responses adults conducted March 7-14. 2018  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 