Satisfaction with Congress Falls to 27% in U.S.

By Angus Reid

 Few Americans are satisfied with their federal lawmakers, according to a poll by CBS News. 27 per cent of respondents approve of the way the United States Congress is handling its job, down six points since December.

In the November 2004 congressional ballot, the Republican Party elected 232 lawmakers to the House of Representatives, while the Democratic Party secured 202 seats. The Republicans also have a majority in the Senate, with 55 members in the 100-seat upper house.

Earlier this month, lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges as part of a deal to cooperate with a federal corruption investigation. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Abramoff has contributed more that $4.4 million U.S. to political clients and associates since 1998.

American voters will renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 7. 34 per cent of respondents believe the Republican Party has higher ethical standards, another 34 per cent choose the Democratic Party, and 17 per cent say neither political organization is satisfactory in this department.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

  Jan. 2006
 Dec. 2005
 Nov. 2005
 
Approve
 27%
 33%
 34%
 
Disapprove
 57%
 53%
 53%
 
No opinion
 16%
 14%
 13%
 

Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican party or the Democratic party has higher ethical standards?

Republican Party
 34%
 
Democratic Party
 34%
 
Both
 4%
 
Neither
 17%
 
No opinion
 11%
 

Source: CBS News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,151 American adults, conducted from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.