The Statecraft Blueprint

Americans Have Never Really Approved of Congress

Congressional job approval, 1974–2026 (Gallup). Since Gallup began tracking in 1974, approval has averaged just 28%. It has been above 60% only briefly — once, after 9/11.

28%
average congressional approval
since Gallup began tracking in 1974
84%
all-time high — October 2001
in the weeks after 9/11
9%
all-time low — November 2013
government shutdown aftermath
10%
approval as of April 2026 —
86% disapproval ties all-time high

Source: Gallup, "Congress and the Public" (1974–2026) — news.gallup.com/poll/1600/congress-public.aspx. Annual averages shown; individual readings used where annual averages unavailable. Full data and methodology: sources.md  |  Raw data: data.csv