Congress http://www.gallup.com/ http://backend.userland.com/rss Gallup WebTeam Americans express slightly greater approval of Congress this month after last month’s decline, but the current 26% rating is still down from this summer. While Democrats’ and Republicans’ approval is up from last month, the percentage of independents approving is the lowest it has been all year. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124277/Congress-Approval-Recovers-Independents-Buck-Trend.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124277/Congress-Approval-Recovers-Independents-Buck-Trend.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:45:00 GMT Republicans have moved ahead of Democrats, 48% to 44%, in Gallup’s latest update on registered-voter preferences for the 2010 midterm congressional elections. Over the course of the year, independents have grown increasingly likely to vote Republican on this measure. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124226/Republicans-Edge-Ahead-Democrats-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124226/Republicans-Edge-Ahead-Democrats-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans are evenly split on the potential long-term impact of a new healthcare bill on the U.S. healthcare system: 41% say it would make the system better; 40% say it would make it worse. They are more negative than positive on the bill’s potential impact on their personal healthcare situations. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124202/No-Clear-Mandate-Americans-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124202/No-Clear-Mandate-Americans-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT The U.S. political climate heading into 2010 is not as favorable to the Democratic Party as it was in 2006 and 2008. Though Democrats continue to have an edge in party affiliation and President Obama retains majority approval, congressional approval and satisfaction with the U.S. are low. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124076/Political-Climate-2010-Not-Favorable-Democrats.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124076/Political-Climate-2010-Not-Favorable-Democrats.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT The Democrats’ 46% to 44% advantage on the generic ballot suggests a solid Republican showing if the midterm elections were held today, assuming a typical GOP advantage in turnout. Even far in advance of the elections, the generic ballot has proven to yield reasonable insight into the U.S. House vote. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124010/Generic-Ballot-Provides-Clues-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/124010/Generic-Ballot-Provides-Clues-2010-Vote.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans are closely divided on healthcare reform, meaning that public opinion offers no real political advantage to either champions or opponents of the idea. That said, a review of Gallup polls conducted throughout the debate reveals five realities crucial to understanding public opinion on this issue. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123989/Americans-Healthcare-Reform-Five-Key-Realities.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123989/Americans-Healthcare-Reform-Five-Key-Realities.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT A majority of Americans, 55%, have at least a fair amount of trust in President Barack Obama on healthcare reform, compared with 48% expressing trust in the Democrats in Congress and 37% trusting the Republicans in Congress. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123917/On-Healthcare-Americans-Trust-Obama-More-Than-Congress.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123917/On-Healthcare-Americans-Trust-Obama-More-Than-Congress.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:15:00 GMT Forty-six percent of registered voters say that if the elections for Congress were being held today, they would vote for the Democratic Party's candidate, and 44% say they would vote for the Republican Party's candidate. http://www.gallup.com/video/123503/Dems-GOP-Poised-Tight-2010-Congressional-Race.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123503/Dems-GOP-Poised-Tight-2010-Congressional-Race.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:30:00 GMT The Democrats are now barely ahead of the Republicans, 46% to 44%, in registered voters’ party preferences for next year’s congressional elections. That differs from the typical double-digit Democratic leads of the past two years. More independents now favor Republican than Democratic candidates. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123497/Parties-Nearly-Tied-Congress-2010.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123497/Parties-Nearly-Tied-Congress-2010.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT The percentage of Americans who approve of the way Congress is handling its job fell to 21% in October, from 31% in late August, with the biggest decline coming among Democrats. http://www.gallup.com/video/123494/Congressional-Job-Approval-Slides.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123494/Congressional-Job-Approval-Slides.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:15:00 GMT Americans' approval of Congress is at 21% this month, down from last month’s 31% and from the recent high of 39% in March. Most of this change is due to a steep 18-point decline in approval among Democrats, from 54% in September to 36% now. At 9%, Republicans’ approval is down just slightly. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123491/Approval-Congress-Falls-21-Driven-Democrats.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123491/Approval-Congress-Falls-21-Driven-Democrats.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:30:00 GMT Americans remain largely divided on whether Congress should pass healthcare legislation, with a full quarter continuing to be unsure. However, when the leanings of undecided Americans are pressed, healthcare reform now enjoys a slight advantage, 51% to 41%, versus the 50% to 47% spread seen last month. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123470/Opposition-Healthcare-Legislation-Drops-Modestly.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123470/Opposition-Healthcare-Legislation-Drops-Modestly.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:45:00 GMT One-third of Americans think the Republicans in Congress have made a sincere effort to work with Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress and 38% think Democrats have made a sincere effort to work with Republicans in Congress to find solutions that are acceptable to both parties. http://www.gallup.com/video/123029/Small-Number-Perceive-Sincere-Bipartisan-Efforts-Congress.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/video/123029/Small-Number-Perceive-Sincere-Bipartisan-Efforts-Congress.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT Job approval ratings for both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are near their lowest points in a decade -- with Democrats, at 36%, faring slightly better than Republicans, at 27%. Republicans are unusually critical of the job their own party is doing. http://www.gallup.com/poll/123011/Parties-Congress-Near-Record-Low-Approval.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/123011/Parties-Congress-Near-Record-Low-Approval.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:15:00 GMT By a 68% to 21% margin, Americans oppose rather than support South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s “You lie!” outburst during President Obama’s address to Congress last Wednesday. Despite the media’s intense focus on it, Americans do not seem passionate in their views about the incident. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122942/Two-Three-Americans-Oppose-Rep-Joe-Wilson-Outburst.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122942/Two-Three-Americans-Oppose-Rep-Joe-Wilson-Outburst.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:15:00 GMT A record-low 45% of Americans currently trust the legislative branch of government, far fewer than trust the judicial (76%) or executive (61%) branches. Three in four Americans (73%) trust the people of the country when it comes to making judgments under the democratic system. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122897/Americans-Trust-Legislative-Branch-Record-Low.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122897/Americans-Trust-Legislative-Branch-Record-Low.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT A new Gallup Poll finds 39% of Americans directing their member of Congress to vote against a healthcare reform bill this fall while 37% want their member to vote in favor. Opponents of reform are more likely than supporters to say the issue will be a factor in their 2010 vote. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122822/Americans-Sharply-Divided-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122822/Americans-Sharply-Divided-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans’ approval of Congress stands at 31% -- lower than earlier this year, albeit up from 2008. At least half of Democrats have approved of the new Congress since March, but a large share of independents and Republicans disapprove. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122399/Congress-Job-Approval-Ratings-Grow-Polarized.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122399/Congress-Job-Approval-Ratings-Grow-Polarized.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT More than two-thirds of Americans (69%) are closely following news accounts of protests at town hall meetings on healthcare reform. While 34% say the protests make them more sympathetic to the protestors’ viewpoints, 21% say less sympathetic; 36% say they haven’t affected their views either way. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122276/Town-Hall-Meetings-Generate-Interest-Sympathy.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122276/Town-Hall-Meetings-Generate-Interest-Sympathy.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:15:00 GMT About as many Americans (35%) say they would tell their member of Congress to vote for a new healthcare reform bill when Congress reconvenes in September as say they would tell their member to vote against such a bill (36%). The rest (29%) have no opinion either way at this time. http://www.gallup.com/poll/122234/Constituents-Divided-Highly-Partisan-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/122234/Constituents-Divided-Highly-Partisan-Healthcare-Reform.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:45:00 GMT Less than half of Americans (44%) believe that a new healthcare reform law would improve medical care in the U.S., while about a quarter (26%) say it would improve their own healthcare situation. Americans are also more likely to believe reform would increase rather than decrease costs nationally and personally. http://www.gallup.com/poll/121943/Benefits-Healthcare-Reform-Tough-Sell-Americans.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/121943/Benefits-Healthcare-Reform-Tough-Sell-Americans.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT Americans see themselves as more knowledgeable than members of Congress regarding the current debate over healthcare reform. Nearly half (48%) say they personally have a good understanding of the issues involved while only 27% say so about members of Congress. http://www.gallup.com/poll/121916/Two-Three-Doubt-Congress-Grasp-Healthcare-Issues.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/121916/Two-Three-Doubt-Congress-Grasp-Healthcare-Issues.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:15:00 GMT Seven in 10 Americans favor the passage of healthcare reform legislation, but less than half (41%) say a new law needs to be passed this year. About a quarter of Americans (24%) do not favor passing new healthcare legislation at all. http://www.gallup.com/poll/121883/Most-U.S.-Want-Healthcare-Reform-Vary-Urgency.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/121883/Most-U.S.-Want-Healthcare-Reform-Vary-Urgency.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:45:00 GMT As the 111th Congress nears its August recess, Americans continue to view Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi more unfavorably than favorably, 48% vs. 32%. House Republican Leader John Boehner’s ratings are equally positive and negative; however, the majority of Americans can’t rate him. http://www.gallup.com/poll/121754/Pelosi-Image-Negative-Boehner-Not-Widely-Known.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/121754/Pelosi-Image-Negative-Boehner-Not-Widely-Known.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:45:00 GMT A majority of Americans (56%) favor Congress’ passing a major healthcare reform bill this year. When asked to choose, Americans say controlling costs (52%) is a more important goal of reform than expanding coverage to nearly all Americans (42%). http://www.gallup.com/poll/121664/Majority-Favors-Healthcare-Reform-This-Year.aspx?CSTS=tagrss http://www.gallup.com/poll/121664/Majority-Favors-Healthcare-Reform-This-Year.aspx?CSTS=tagrss Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:15:00 GMT