(03/03/10) -

Three-in-Four Americans Disapprove of Congress

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – More Americans are expressing dissatisfaction with their legislative branch, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 73 per cent of respondents disapprove of the performance of Congress, up eight points since January.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – More Americans are expressing dissatisfaction with their legislative branch, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 73 per cent of respondents disapprove of the performance of Congress, up eight points since January.

American voters renewed the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate in November 2006. In January 2007, the Democratic Party took control of the lower house for the first time since 1994, with 233 lawmakers. Democratic California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House.

A new congressional election took place in November 2008. The Democrats received 53.04 per cent of the vote and secured 257 seats in the lower house, while the Republicans got 44.16 per cent of the vote and won 178 seats.

In November 2009, lawmakers in the lower house of Congress approved a reform bill known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act in a 220-215 vote. In December, the Senate passed its own version of the bill in a 60-39 vote. The differences between the two bills are expected to be reconciled by both houses this year.

On Feb. 25, Pelosi discussed the effect of health care reform, saying, "This bill is not only about the health security of America. It’s about jobs. In its life it will create 4 million jobs—400,000 jobs almost immediately; jobs, again, in the health care industry, but in the entrepreneurial world as well."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of the United States Congress?

Complete Poll (PDF)