Congressional approval hits a new low

Natalie Gonnella

As the 111^th Congress draws to a close, Americans are all but pleased with policymakers' recent performance.

According to Gallup’s latest poll, only 13% of voters approve of the way Congress is currently handling its responsibilities, with eight in ten Americans disapproving, the worst rating Gallup has ever measured in over three decades of polling:

In relation to political ideology, only seven percent of Republicans currently approve of Congress's performance, followed by Independents at 13% and Democrats at 16% (down from 29% in November)

Although the figures provide a depressing reflection of the current political stagnation, it is likely there will be an uptick in approval as the House leadership changes hands to a GOP majority:

Gallup documented a 10-point increase in Congress' approval rating from December 1994 to January 1995 after the Republicans officially took control of the House and Senate after the 1994 midterm elections. There was a larger 14-point increase in congressional approval ratings after the Democrats' taking control of Congress in January 2007.

Coincidentally, the second lowest approval, July 2008 (14%), also occurred when Democrats also held the majority in both chambers.