The movement away from the long-held view that government should promote traditional societal values has been driven primarily by Democrats and political independents, while Republicans remain relatively steadfast in favoring governmental promotion of traditional values.

Paradoxically, Republicans’ preference for an active governmental role in promoting traditional values contrasts with their preference for a more limited governmental role in economic and other matters. While Republicans have historically favored less government involvement in their lives, two-thirds want the government to play a role in instilling traditional values in society. This percentage is just modestly lower than figures for Republicans recorded in the previous decade. Republicans are more conservative than Democrats in their beliefs about moral issues, helping explain their consistent backing of a role for government in furthering traditional values.