American vary widely in their view of government's proper role in people's lives. Conservatives want government to uphold traditional social values but do not want it to provide economic support to those in need. Approximately 31 percent of Americans are conservatives. In contrast to conservatives, liberals believe that government should not interfere with people's social values but should provide economic support to those in need. Liberals make up about 13 percent of the U.S. population. Populits agree with conservatives about social issues but with liberals about economic issue: they want government to play a major role in both areas. About 17 percent of Americans are populists, who tend to engage in the most government activism. Most committed to individual freedom. libertarians--about 24 percent of Americans--are opposed to government intervention in both social and economic matters.