Most Americans (62%) agree that the Fourth of July is one of the country’s most important holidays. That figure is up four points from last year.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only four percent (4%) think the holiday celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence is one of the least important . Thirty-two percent (32%) consider it somewhere in between the most and least important holidays.

Men (66%) tend to consider July 4 more important than women (59%). More Republicans (73%) view it as one of the nation’s most important holidays than Democrats (57%) and Americans not affliated with either major party (57%).

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter.

Nearly a third (32%) of Americans deem the country’s first president, George Washington, as the greatest Founding Father. A quarter of adults (26%) declare Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, as the greatest Founding Father, while 22% say the same of Benjamin Franklin. Only seven percent (7%) list John Adams, the nation's second president, and three percent (3%) pick James Madison, the chief author of the U.S. Constitution. Ten percent (10%) are undecided which Founding Father was the greatest.

These figures are similar to findings this time last year.

All but Washington signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The core ideals articulated by those words are still embraced by solid majorities of the American public.

More men consider Washington (36%) the country’s greatest Founding Father than women (28%), but he is still the first choice among both groups.

While Democrats and Republicans agree that Washington was the greatest Founding Father, adults not affiliated with either party are evenly divided between Washington and Jefferson over who deserves that honor.

But when Americans are asked to choose who among five presidents was the nation’s most influential chief executive, Washington comes in next to last with 12%. He is followed only by Jefferson with 10% support.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) say Lincoln, with Ronald Reagan next at 16% and then Franklin D. Roosevelt with 15%.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of voters nationwide rate the U.S. Constitution as good or excellent, and there is little public support for changing the document. But 44% believe it doesn't place enough restrictions on the government.

Most Americans (54%) believe the United States is a nation of liberty and justice for all, as the Pledge of Allegiance states, up three points from last year.

The Fourth of July weekend is a popular time to take a vacation. A separate Rasmussen Reports survey found, however, that while 38% of adults say they plan to take a summer vacation, 58% of vacation-goers say economic conditions are forcing them to reduce spending on their getaway.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available to Premium Members only.