Multiple factors contribute to the current low approval rating for the U.S. Congress, including intense political polarization, a perceived lack of productivity, persistent partisan conflict, and broader economic concerns. Approval ratings in 2025 have continued a trend of general public dissatisfaction with the legislative branch.
Key factors behind low approval
Political polarization and
partisan divisions
- Approval split along party lines: Polls
from 2025 show historic gaps in how Democrats and Republicans view
Congress. A Gallup poll in July 2025 revealed that while 61% of
Republicans approved of Congress's job performance, only 6% of Democrats
felt the same.
- Flip-flopping approval: The partisan nature of approval is heavily influenced by which party controls the presidency and Congress. When one party controls both, its supporters' approval rises, while the opposition's drops. The 2025 numbers show a reversal of the 2021 trend, when a Democrat-led Congress produced high approval among Democrats and low approval among Republicans.
Legislative gridlock and low
productivity
- Stalled legislation: A failure to pass
significant legislation frustrates voters. For instance, the 118th
Congress (2023–2025) was one of the least productive in history based on
the number of bills passed. This legislative gridlock is a common cause of
public dissatisfaction.
- Internal party conflict: Internal divisions within a party can also lead to legislative failure and public frustration. An example is the October 2023 ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which highlighted congressional infighting.
Broader economic and political
concerns
- Economic anxiety: The economy and
inflation remain top concerns for voters. Lingering economic uncertainty
influences public sentiment and contributes to negative views of
government leaders and institutions.
- "Wrong track" sentiment: Broader
indicators of national mood, such as the widely held belief that the
country is on the "wrong track," contribute to negative
perceptions of Congress.
- General government frustration: A significant portion of the electorate cites dissatisfaction with the government as the country's most important problem. This general frustration extends beyond a single party and negatively affects approval ratings.
The disconnect between
national and local approval
While voters express widespread disapproval for Congress as a whole, they tend to view their own representative more favorably. This paradox persists because incumbents often face challengers with lower public recognition and less access to funding and party support. The institutional advantage of incumbency helps maintain the status quo, even as the public remains unhappy with the legislative body overall.
As of September 2025, public dissatisfaction with the US Congress is driven by political polarization, legislative gridlock, and the perception that lawmakers are corrupt and out of touch with average Americans. These factors have contributed to historically low approval ratings for the legislative body.
Political polarization and
gridlock
- Worsening partisanship: The gap in
approval ratings for Congress between Democrats and Republicans is at a
record high. Polls show that approval largely depends on which party
controls Congress at a given time, but overall public opinion remains low.
In 2025, approval is high among Republicans (61%) but near a record low
among Democrats (6%).
- Legislative inaction: The perception that
Congress is unproductive and gridlocked significantly contributes to low
approval. For example, the 118th Congress (2023–2025) was one of the least
productive in history. Congress has also failed to address major national
issues, such as immigration, budget deficits, and climate change, leading
to voter frustration.
- Risk of government shutdown: Recent years
have included multiple near-shutdowns and actual shutdowns. In September
2025, a deadline to fund the government was looming, creating uncertainty
that further damages public trust.
- Judiciary budget crisis: Disputes over appropriations and spending have created a serious budget crisis for the federal judiciary in 2025, which further demonstrates congressional dysfunction to the public.
https://www.google.com/search?q=why+does+the+us+congress+have+a+low+approval+rating+toda
According to Gallup, which began tracking congressional approval in 1974, the average US Congress approval rating over the past 50 years to 2025 has been 33%. It is important to note that this average includes significant fluctuations, with ratings reaching record highs and lows.
Key trends and data points
(1975–2025)
- Average approval: The 50-year average
approval rating for Congress has been approximately 33%.
- Historical high: The highest approval
rating for Congress occurred in October 2001, when it reached 84% in the
aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
- Historical low: The lowest approval
rating was 9% in November 2013.
- Approval since 2008: Since the 2008
financial crisis, congressional approval has consistently been at
particularly low levels.
- Party polarization: Approval ratings often shift based on which party controls the chambers of Congress. When control is divided, approval tends to drop among supporters of both parties.
Approval ratings over time
1974–1997: Approval was
low during this period, with ratings reaching 40% or more on only 8 of 62
measurements.
- From 1992 to 1994, the average approval
was just 24%.
1992–2001: Congressional
approval increased steadily, rising from 18% to the record high of 84% in
October 2001.
2001–2010: Following the
post-9/11 "rally effect," approval declined as the War on Terror
continued and the Great Recession took hold, dropping to 13% by 2010.
2010–2025: Since
2010, approval has generally stayed within a low range of 13% to 36%.
- Brief upticks have occurred, such as
during the early part of the Biden administration in 2021, when it reached
36%.
- As of August 2025, the latest reading from
Gallup shows a 24% approval rating.
- Congressional Approval Sinks to Record Low - Gallup News
Data indicates that the
average approval rating of the U.S. Congress since 1974 is approximately
33-34%, according to Gallup.
However, there's a wider range of approval over the past five decades, with a low of 9% in November 2013 and a high of 84% in October 2001. In August 2025, the approval rating was 24%.
Several factors influence
congressional approval, including responses to major events, legislative
output, and partisan divides.
- Significant events: The approval
rating reached its peak of 84% following the 9/11 attacks in October 2001.
- Legislative Action: Approval can rise
when Congress passes high-profile bills with broad public support.
- Partisan Polarization: Approval
ratings have become more polarized along party lines, especially in recent
years.
It is important to note that public opinion of Congress is often viewed as negative, with a majority of Americans holding an unfavorable view.
Comments
The 61% Congressional Approval Rating by Republicans and the 6% approval by Democrats reflects the ideological divide in 2025. Democrats support a “welfare state’, but socialism always results in national poverty. The US Free Market Economy puts consumers in control of prices based on supply and demand. When beef prices are high we buy chicken and beef prices are lowered.
When the “big government” began in 1901 under Teddy Roosevelt it began with cleaning up the US food industry and was a good thing. It also included building the Panama Canal, another good thing. Teddy’s imperial expansion did not end well. Cuba’s revolt against Spain in the 1890s ended with Cuba becoming Communist in the 1950s. Teddy’s “conservation program” ended with the US Federal Government owning 30% of the US land mass and that’s a bad thing.
When the US took over Hawaii
in 1899 it was finally made the 50th State in 1959 and has been
Democrat ever since.
When France abandoned Haiti in
1804, they lost the sugar cane trade and never recovered. Russia became Communist in 1922.
When Franklin Roosevelt created Social Security in 1933, it was a good thing, but is also gave Congress a slush fund to overspend on more “free stuff”.
When France abandoned Vietnam in 1945, it became Communist. China became Communist in 1945. Venezuela’s Oil reserves prompted their move to Communism in the 1960s to get “free stuff”.
Congress is expected to increase the Republican counts in the House and Senate in the November 2026 midterm election. This will allow them to upgrade Federal Systems to improve data accuracy and right-size the Federal Government headcount. They will then have a chance to receive higher Ratings. Improvements in Federal performance and outcomes should allow Republicans to maintain majorities in the House and Senate and Whitehouse beyond 2028. With upgraded systems, Congressional Approval should improve.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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