Few Americans want the president to bypass Congress in a national emergency
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from September 25 to 30, 2026. During a national emergency, 44.1% of Americans say Congress should keep its usual role in foreign policy and national security, and 35.8% say it depends. Just 14.6% would let the president make more decisions without Congress.
Another 5.6% are not sure. The question asks about foreign policy and national security decisions during a national emergency.
Topline distribution
Few Americans want the president to bypass Congress in a national emergency.
Which view comes closer to your own?
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 25–30, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Democracy, Politics, & Participation |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
Which view comes closer to your own?
Cite this question
APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.