From time to time, libertarians complain to Portrait of America and other polling firms there are places on the political spectrum beyond liberal, moderate, and conservative. Many refer to the “World’s Smallest Political Quiz”, a product of the libertarian leaning Advocates for Self-Government. The quiz asks participants ten questions that position them on a liberal, conservative, centrist, authoritarian, and libertarian scale.

Using the same questions and scale, a Portrait of America telephone survey of 822 likely voters found 32% of American voters are centrists; 16% are libertarians; 14% are authoritarians; 13% liberal; 7% are conservative; and, 17% border one or more categories.

While the test identified 16% of the voting population as libertarian, only 2% of the respondents identified themselves with that label when given a chance.

Libertarians and centrists are equally distributed throughout the Democratic and Republican parties.

Portrait of America conducted this national telephone survey of 822 likely voters on August 23, 2000. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Non-church goers are just as likely to be libertarians (18%) as left liberals (19%). Those who attend church 4 or more times per month are slightly more likely to be libertarians (15%) than right conservatives (11%).

Harry Browne, Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan draw an almost equal percentage of libertarian support. (Browne 30%), (Nader 26%), (Buchanan 24%).

Women are slightly more likely to be authoritarians (18%) than libertarians (14%). Men are more likely to be centrists (36%) than women (28%).

African Americans comprise the least number of left liberals (9%) and the highest number of libertarians (21%).

Question Wording:

1. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: military service should be voluntary. There should be no draft. 

59%  Agree
31%  Disagree
11%  Not sure

2. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: government should not control radio, TV, the press, or the Internet.

65%  Agree
22%  Disagree
13%  Not sure

3. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: we should repeal regulations on sex for consenting adults.

35%  Agree
26%  Disagree
39%  Not sure

4. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: drug laws do more harm than good. Repeal them.

28%  Agree
44%  Disagree
27%  Not sure

5. Do you agree or disagree with the statement: People should be free to come and go across borders; to live and work where they choose.  

28%  Agree
65%  Disagree
07%  Not sure

6. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: businesses and farms should operate without government subsidies.

42%  Agree
43%  Disagree
15%  Not sure

7. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: people are better off with free trade than with tariffs.

50%  Agree
24%  Disagree
27%  Not sure

8. Do you agree or disagree with the following: Minimum wage laws cause unemployment. Repeal them.

27%  Agree
57%  Disagree
16%  Not sure

9. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: we should end taxes. Pay for services with user fees. 

36%  Agree
46%  Disagree
18%  Not sure

10. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: all foreign aid should be privately funded.

30%  Agree
42%  Disagree
28%  Not sure

11. Which word would you use in describing your political position to a friend: left, right, liberal, conservative, centrist, libertarian, or authoritarian?

05%  Left
09%  Right
26%  Liberal
39%  Conservative
09%  Centrist
02%  Libertarian
00%  Authoritarian
05%  None of these terms
04%  Not sure
 

12. Do you believe politicians bend the meaning of words like Liberal and Conservative to suit their political agenda?

85%  Yes
07%  No
09%  Not sure

13. Do you believe there are too many laws in the United States?

56%  Yes
30%  No
14%  Not sure