Just 19% of American voters believe that Congress is doing a good or an excellent job. That’s down from 26% a month ago and just four points above the ratings given to the Republican Congress on Election night 2006. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 37% give Congress a “fair” rating while 41% say poor (see history).

Among Democratic voters, 24% say Congress is doing a good or an excellent job. That’s down eleven points from 35% a month ago. Forty-one percent (41%) of Democrats say their team is doing a fair job while 31% say poor.

Just 13% of American voters believe that Congress has passed any legislation over the past year that will significantly improve life in America. That’s down from 17% on Election Night 2006.

Overall, just 8% of Americans say it’s Very Likely that Congress will seriously address the important issues facing the nation this year. Another 32% say it is Somewhat Likely that Congress will do so. Most (55%) say Congress is Not Very Likely or Not at All Likely to address the important issues before us. Those figures have changed little since Election 2006.

Overall, American voters continue to trust Democrats more than Republicans on ten key issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports. However, Republicans have gained voter trust on the immigration issue over the past month. Another survey found that Democrats have an seven point advantage on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of American voters believe that Members of Congress are primarily interested in their own careers. Just 14% believe the legislators are primarily interested in helping people. Those figures have changed little over the past seven months.

Rasmussen Reports regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics. Rasmussen Reports also continuously updates favorability ratings and general election match-ups for all Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates along with ratings for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports also conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day including gun control, partial-birth abortion, and Iraq. The latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Democrat Nomination Process every Monday and on the Republican contest every Tuesday. Results for the Generic Congressional Ballot are updated monthly.