PRINCETON, NJ -- The budget sequestration that went into effect on March 1 appears to have had little impact on Americans' views of Congress. Thirteen percent of Americans approve of Congress in March, essentially unchanged from 15% in February.

One reason for the lack of change in the Congress approval trend may be simply that approval is so low already. The current 13% reading, based on interviewing conducted March 7-10, is just a few percentage points above the all-time low of 10% reached twice last year. At this low level, negative views of what Congress does, or does not do, are probably already "built into" the ratings. These low ratings could improve if Congress does something the public respects, but leave little room for a further drop if Americans continue to perceive Congress' activities negatively.

Congress approval has averaged 14% for the first quarter of 2013, compared with 15% for all of 2012, 17% in 2011, and 19% in 2010. In short, the readings so far this year continue a very negative period for the public's views of the job done by the men and women they elect and send to represent them in Washington.

Republicans, Independents, and Democrats Converge on Shared Low Ratings

Republicans, independents, and Democrats have converged at nearly equal ratings of Congress, with approval ratings of 15%, 11%, and 13%, respectively. The three partisan groups' ratings generally have been similar for two years, except for one spike in approval among Democrats last October. When the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress before the November 2010 elections, rank-and-file Democrats were routinely much more positive than either of the other two partisan groups about Congress.

Implications

There are no signs that Americans' negative views of Congress are changing in either direction after the implementation of the budget sequester on March 1. Congress' job approval has averaged 14% so far this year, including March's reading of 13%, which is on par with Congress' 15% approval for all of 2012.