New poll finds voters concerned about presidential power and strongly support constitutional checks and balances

American voters are increasingly concerned about too much power being concentrated in the presidency, according to new polling released today by Issue One and YouGov in observation of Constitution Day, which recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1787. The poll, which found strong bipartisan support for our system of checks and balances and an overall majority who are worried that President Trump is going too far outside the bounds of our constitutional order, comes as Issue One releases a new legislative reform package designed to restore congressional authority in key areas: trade, war powers, domestic military deployment, elections, power of the purse, and national emergencies.

The survey of registered voters nationwide shows robust support for curtailing executive branch overreach through congressional oversight and the belief that elected officials should adhere to the Constitution’s system of checks and balances to achieve consensus — even if it means the majority doesn’t always get its way.

“Americans want a Congress that will stand up to the president when they go too far — that’s the whole point of checks and balances,” said Issue One Founder and CEO Nick Penniman. “Our Constitution was designed to prevent any one president from acting like a king. But if our country keeps heading down this path, power will keep concentrating in the White House — and a representative government that is by and for the American people will be replaced with a government that only serves the president and those connected to him.

“Congress needs to step up and do its job. Upholding the Constitution is not about right versus left — it is about being on the right or wrong side of history.”

According to the poll, nearly 1 in 3 voters (32%) ranked the president as having too much power as their top issue of concern, just below inflation (46%) and roughly tied with jobs (34%) and immigration (34%). An overall majority of voters (59%), including nearly 8 in 10 independents (79%), also said that President Trump was going too far outside the bounds of our system of checks and balances to advance his political agenda.

A majority of voters (56%) do not believe that the president should be able to impose unilateral tariffs, a signature policy of President Trump, without congressional approval. 80% of voters said that the president should not be able to order the military to use force against peaceful protesters, 75% said that the president should not be able to allow a company to access Americans’ sensitive personal data without congressional approval, and 61% said that the federal government should not be able to take control of U.S. cities.

The poll found a broad, bipartisan preference for leaders who respect our system of checks and balances. More than 3 in 4 voters (78%) support holding the executive branch accountable through congressional oversight, and nearly 3 in 4 respondents (72%) would prefer a candidate who acts with respect for institutions and rules rather than ignoring the Constitution to act with greater speed and urgency, including nearly 3 in 4 independents (73%) and a majority of Republicans (57%). Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) voters said that the primary job of members of Congress was to represent their constituents rather than agreeing with the president, including more than 8 in 10 independents (86%) and nearly 2 in 3 Republicans (65%).

The poll was conducted by YouGov on August 25 to August 29, 2025, with a sample of 1,070 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The poll’s sample consisted of 36% Democrats, 38% Republicans, 22% independents, and 4% other. See full results of the poll.

To address Americans’ concerns about executive branch overreach and protect our country’s system of checks and balances, Issue One is releasing a new policy platform designed to restore congressional authority in six key areas: trade, war powers, domestic military deployment, elections, power of the purse, and national emergencies. Each proposal is rooted in the specific constitutional responsibilities outlined in Article I of the Constitution — intended to stand as enduring, nonpartisan principles transcending the political moment.

The poll and policy platform are both part of Issue One’s Check the Exec campaign — a crosspartisan effort urging members of Congress to defend the Constitution and uphold our system of checks and balances.