Approval of Congress stands at 13 percent

Congress’s approval rating stands at 13 percent heading into a two-week recess, according to a new poll. 

A Gallup survey released Thursday found little variation in Congress’s approval rating in recent months. Since December, the body’s approval rating has hovered between 12 percent and 15 percent. 

{mosads}Its approval rating is up from its all-time low of 9 percent in November, shortly after the government shutdown. 

Gallup notes that Congress’s approval rating has never been less than 20 percent at this point in a midterm election year, and it is unlikely to change, unless “something substantially improves Congress’ image” in the next few months. 

It is unclear, however, how the low approval rating will affect the midterm elections, Gallup writes. 

“Divided party control — which is one reason Congress’ ratings are so low — makes it harder for voters to direct their frustrations at a specific party on Election Day,” Gallup writes in an analysis accompanying the poll. 

“Another factor that could spare incumbents from major losses is that midterms generally play out as a referendum on the sitting president. So, it could be that President Barack Obama’s job rating in the fall will be much more important than Congress.’ “

The poll surveyed 1,026 people from April 3-6 and has a 4-percentage-point margin of error.