The Effect of Partisan Attachment Strength on Perceptions of Supreme Court Legitimacy
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Political Science/Pre-Professional Legal Studies
Minor
Criminal Justice
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Brittany Wood
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
To what extent does an individual's attachment to a political party influence their perceptions of governmental institutions? This study analyzes how the strength of an individual's partisan attachment shapes their evaluation of the Supreme Court's legitimacy. Because individuals with stronger partisan attachments tend to have more entrenched and intense political views, they are more likely to perceive there to be disagreement between their policy preferences and the direction of the Court, which may decrease their perception of the Court's legitimacy. Public perceptions of the Court’s legitimacy are essential to its functioning, as the Court relies heavily on such perceptions to maintain authority and ensure compliance with its rulings. Using data from the 2020 edition of the General Social Survey, I analyze the relationship between the strength of partisan attachment and perceptions of Supreme Court legitimacy through logistic regression. I expect that individuals with stronger partisan attachments will perceive the Court to have less legitimacy than individuals with weaker attachments. This would suggest that evaluations of the Supreme Court are more politically contingent and fragile than originally understood to be.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Political Science and Sociology Department Panel
The Effect of Partisan Attachment Strength on Perceptions of Supreme Court Legitimacy
To what extent does an individual's attachment to a political party influence their perceptions of governmental institutions? This study analyzes how the strength of an individual's partisan attachment shapes their evaluation of the Supreme Court's legitimacy. Because individuals with stronger partisan attachments tend to have more entrenched and intense political views, they are more likely to perceive there to be disagreement between their policy preferences and the direction of the Court, which may decrease their perception of the Court's legitimacy. Public perceptions of the Court’s legitimacy are essential to its functioning, as the Court relies heavily on such perceptions to maintain authority and ensure compliance with its rulings. Using data from the 2020 edition of the General Social Survey, I analyze the relationship between the strength of partisan attachment and perceptions of Supreme Court legitimacy through logistic regression. I expect that individuals with stronger partisan attachments will perceive the Court to have less legitimacy than individuals with weaker attachments. This would suggest that evaluations of the Supreme Court are more politically contingent and fragile than originally understood to be.