Grading Congress

The Center on Congress at Indiana University recently updated questions it has asked in recent years about Congress. It found that 54 percent of respondents would give Congress an “F” for dealing with key issues facing the country. Only 9 percent in the poll approved of the job Congress was doing. Although 83 percent thought that it was better for Congress to take time to consider issues thoroughly and carefully (17 percent wanted Congress to pass legislation quickly and efficiently), 71 percent in another question said delays were caused by members who like to bicker and score political points. Twenty-nine percent said delays were due to serious differences on issues. Two-thirds of respondents said members of Congress very often do not listen or care about what people think.

Source: The Center on Congress at Indiana University, November 2012.