A significant majority of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, according to the results of a Gallup poll released on Wednesday, with many citing ongoing partisan gridlock.
The poll found that 78 percent of Americans disapprove of Congress' job performance, while just 17 percent approve. Another 5 percent had no opinion.
Gallup noted that this marks the 45th consecutive month that more than two-thirds of Americans have given Congress the thumbs down.
When asked to explain some of the reasons they disapprove of Congress, a total of 59 percent cited partisan gridlock and ineffectiveness.
Nineteen percent cited Congress' performance on a particular issue, while another 9 percent mentioned complaints about congressional ethics or behavior.
While Democrats who disapprove of Congress are a bit more likely to cite inaction, Republicans are slightly more likely to mention policy disagreements.
Among the slim minority that approve of the job Congress is doing, 28 percent credit Congress with making some sort of effort. Fifteen percent cite congressional success on a specific issue.
"What this means for the future is unclear," said Gallup Senior Editor Lydia Saad. "Congress' approval was similarly low in 2012, yet that election resulted in little turnover, preserving a divided Congress."
"As long as more Americans approve than disapprove of the job their own member of Congress is doing, as Gallup found in May, the status quo could persist," she added.
The Gallup survey of 1,529 adults was conducted June 1st through 4th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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