Pew Research Center Staff

In 2010 surveys, 42% of Americans favored same-sex marriage — up from 37% just in 2009 — while fewer than half (48%) opposed gay marriage for the first time in Pew Research Center polling.

More than seven-in-ten Republicans say protecting gun rights is more important than controlling gun ownership, while nearly as many Democrats say gun control is more important.

Among internet users, 7% of adults friended a candidate or political group on a social networking site or followed them on Twitter.

Among adult internet users who engaged with a political campaign on Twitter or a social networking site, more supported Republican congressional candidates than Democratic candidates.

Despite concern about mounting federal debt, majorities or pluralities continue to favor increased spending in five of 18 program areas.

For the first time, the internet has surpassed television as the main source of national and international news for people younger than age 30.

While 16% of Americans are unaffiliated with any particular religion, not a single member of Congress lists his or her religion as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.”

Hispanic voters are nearly three times more prevalent in states that gained congressional seats and Electoral College votes in the 2010 reapportionment than they are in states that lost seats.

Over the entire course of 2010, just 1% of news coverage was devoted to the Iraq war.