PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Approval of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job has dropped into the single digits for the first time in almost four decades, a Gallup poll indicates.
Only 9 percent of respondents said Congress is doing a good job, the lowest level since Gallup began asking the question in 1974.
The divided U.S. electorate is united in its distaste for Congress, Gallup reported Tuesday. In the poll conducted between Thursday and Saturday, 8 percent of independents, 9 percent of Republicans and 10 percent of Democrats gave Congress high marks.
"Americans have rarely been highly positive about Congress, which has an average approval rating of 33 percent since 1974. Congressional approval on an annual basis was highest in 2001 at 56 percent, reflecting the rally effect after the 9/11 terrorist attacks," Gallup said in its report. "But since the 2008 financial crisis, approval has been particularly low, with the exception of the months after Obama's first inauguration in 2009."
Congress's approval rating averages 14 percent for the year so far, which would be the lowest annual rating ever unless there's a big jump in December. In October, as the government shut down, only 11 percent approved of Congress's performance, and the drop continued this month.
Democrats were especially affected by the shutdown. In September, 20 percent approved of Congress, which fell to 5 percent in October.
The report suggested the divided Congress could cut approval ratings with Democrats tending to dislike the House and Republicans the Senate.
Gallup surveyed 1,039 adults around the country. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.
