Only 18 percent of Americans approve of the job that the U.S. Congress is doing, according to a new Gallup poll.
The 18 percent approval mark is a slight bump up from July when just 13 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of Congress. The 18 percent figure also ties the highest approval rating Congress has netted all year.
Gallup reports:
Americans' approval of the U.S. Congress remains low at 18%, though the rating has recovered after dropping to 13% in July. The rating in August ties with the highest measured in 2016 so far. Approval of the institution has been below 20% in most of Gallup's monthly measures since February 2010.
Approval ratings of Congress were in the 30% range in 2009 during the honeymoon period for President Barack Obama and a newly installed Democratic majority. However, by early 2010, approval faltered and has since averaged 16%.
This month's improvement in Americans' approval of Congress, recorded in an Aug. 3-7 Gallup poll, coincides with a 10-percentage-point increase in the percentage of adults who say they are satisfied with the direction of the U.S. Both measures had taken a hit in July before they rebounded this month.
Congressional approval has remained extremely low since 2010, averaging just 16 percent during the past six years.
Republicans remain the most skeptical of Congress. Just 13 percent of Republicans approve of the job Congress is doing while 20 percent of independents and 19 percent of Democrats approve.