Poll: Voters See Trump and Republicans as Risks to Constitutional Balance – and Shutdown Blame Falls to Them
62% of voters support legislative action to clarify or limit presidential power
The latest national survey conducted by the Bullfinch Group from September 6-11, 2025 finds voters deeply skeptical of executive overreach and broadly supportive of congressional checks on presidential power. The poll of 2,000 adults, including 1,700 registered voters, shows that concerns about a potential constitutional crisis are widespread, and that blame for dysfunction in Washington continues to fall more heavily on Trump and Republicans than on Democrats.
Toplines of the polling are available for download below.
Public Opinion on Trump and the Parties
Donald Trump remains underwater with voters, with 41% favorable to 47% unfavorable. The Republican Party fares similarly poorly (40% to 43%), while the Democratic Party posts a modestly positive rating (42% to 35%). Notably, independent adults are especially sour on Republicans, breaking 25% to 40% against the party and 31% to 49% against Trump. Though Democrats also face a net negative among independents (27% to 32%), the gap is far smaller.
Checks on Presidential Power
A clear majority of Americans believe Congress, not the White House, should control spending and executive priorities. Six in ten adults (63% of registered voters) say that the Trump administration must seek congressional approval for its priorities, compared to just 23% who think the administration should be free to redirect funds at will. Support for congressional control is strongest among older voters, with more than seven in ten Baby Boomers (72%) and Silent Generation voters (71%) siding with Congress.
When it comes to accountability, Americans back multiple avenues for exercising checks and balances on the administration. Nearly four in ten support impeachment (37% of adults, 39% of RVs), about the same share favor legal action in federal courts (36% and 38%), and 30% of voters support congressional censure. Only 19% of adults oppose all accountability methods.
Independents, in particular, are less likely than partisans to reject accountability measures outright, signaling that a broad coalition—including swing voters—favors Congress taking some form of action.
Voters also support new legislative efforts to rein in presidential authority. Nearly six in ten adults (59%) want Congress to take legislative action to clarify or limit presidential power, with 31% strongly in favor. This creates an opportunity for lawmakers to frame reforms as nonpartisan guardrails, appealing directly to independents who consistently express concern about abuse of power, regardless of which party holds the White House.
Fear of a Constitutional Crisis and Shutdown Politics
Concerns about the consequences of Trump’s actions run deep. Almost two-thirds of Americans (63%) worry the President’s behavior could spark a constitutional crisis, including 38% who are very concerned. Concern is slightly higher among registered voters, at 65% worried, 40% of those very concerned.
This is important to note, as Congress is rapidly approaching its deadline at the end of this month to pass a spending bill that keeps the government open, as compromise is required to get any bill across the finish line. Given the dynamics discussed earlier around presidential power, together with the above sentiment on a constitutional crisis, results relating to public opinion about a potential shutdown are unsurprising.
If a shutdown does occur, voters are more likely to fault Trump and Republicans. Nearly half (46%) would blame either the President (24%) or the GOP (22%), compared to just 20% who would blame Democrats. Another quarter (25%) would assign blame to both parties equally.
Bottom Line
The survey highlights a clear tension in public opinion: Americans oppose unilateral executive action and want Congress to assert its role in checking presidential power, yet they are also hesitant to see those checks come at the cost of a shutdown. For Democrats, the numbers offer two advantages—evidence that voters are concerned about Trump’s overreach, and then reassurance that blame for dysfunction is more likely to land on Republicans if D.C. grinds to a halt.