U.S. Congress' approval at 15 percent

WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- Fifteen percent of Americans say they approve of the work Congress is doing, while 78 percent say they disapprove, a Gallup poll found.

Congress' approval rating has remained low in recent years, averaging 17 percent in 2011, 15 percent in 2012, and 15 percent for the first half of this year, Gallup reported.

The highest yearly average was 56 percent in 2001, which was due to a spike shortly after the Sept. 11 terror attacks that year.

Democrats had a slightly higher approval of Congress than their Republican and independent counterparts, Gallup found. While 21 percent of Democrats approve of Congress, 12 percent of Republicans and 14 percent of independents said the same.

Gallup polled 2,027 adults nationwide between July 10 and 14. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.