Gallup Poll: Congressional Approval Rating Hits Another New Low

Americans' approval of Congress has dropped to an all-time low of 9 percent, a Gallup poll showed Tuesday.

The previous low was 10 percent, registered twice in 2012.

"Americans have rarely been highly positive about Congress, which has an average approval rating of 33 percent since 1974," the poll noted.

"Congressional approval on an annual basis was highest in 2001 at 56 percent . . . But since the 2008 financial crisis, approval has been particularly low, with the exception of the months after Obama's first inauguration in 2009."

The disapproval came from Republicans, Democrats and independents, the poll showed. Democrats gave the lawmakers a 10 percent approval rating; Republicans, 9 percent; and independents, 8 percent.

Congress' approval rating fell to 11 percent last month during the 16-day government shutdown. Two months ago, 19 percent of respondents approved of Congress, Gallup said.

"The government shutdown in October clearly didn't help Congress' image, and it appears that the impact of that incident may linger, given the record-low approval this month," a poll analysis said.

President Barack Obama's approval rating has also been dragged down by the implementation of ObamaCare. Gallup recorded his approval rating at 39 percent last week. It has since inched up to 40 percent.

The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Related Story:

• Poll: Congressional Approval Hits New Low as Anger Soars