The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that voters’ opinions of Congress have not improved over the past month. Just 13% give the national legislature good or excellent ratings, while 47% say it is doing a poor job.

Men are slightly more harsh in their evaluation of Congress than women. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of men say the legislators are doing a poor job. Just 35% of women agree. On the positive side, 11% of men give Congress a good or excellent rating. Fourteen percent (14%) of women agree.

Over half of Republicans (58%) say Congress is doing a poor job. That number has dropped slightly over the past month. Just 31% of Democrats give Congress poor ratings. That number has increased slightly over the past month.

Despite the negative opinions of Congress, the 2008 election has created a record number of Democrats and voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on ten out of ten key electoral issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

Just 12% of voters think Congress has passed legislation to improve life in America within the past year. Most (61%) disagree and say Congress has done nothing to improve life throughout the nation. Voters have little hope for the near future. Just 37% think it is even somewhat likely that Congress will seriously address important problems in the next six months. Most (56%) say that Congress is unlikely to face up to the issues of the day.

Seventy-one percent (71%) think Members of Congress are more interested in furthering their own political careers than helping people. Just 14% disagree.

The Supreme Court earns more positive reviews from voters. Forty-one percent (41%) of voters say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job, while 19% say it is doing a poor job.

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