Even though Congress just started its new 114th session, Americans gave lawmakers a 16 percent job approval rating in a new Gallup poll - the same as it was last December.
The major difference this year is that Republicans have full control of both chambers, but 76 percent of Americans still said they disapprove.
Gallup predicts that the current Congress will gain more approval with time, though, because when an election results in full control being handed to one party, Americans usually respond by rating the unified body somewhat more favorably than a divided one. This was shown when Democrats took control of both chambers in 2007, and after the 1994 midterms, when Republicans took back full control.
Congress even saw a temporary 7-point spike in approval ratings after Republicans assumed control of the House in 2011, Gallup noted.
The only year a new partisan makeup did not translate into higher approval was in 2003, after Republicans won back the Senate and retained their House majority.
"Last Tuesday, 58 freshman House members and 13 new senators were sworn into Congress and, more importantly, the balance of power shifted, giving Republicans control of both houses. At the moment, before Congress has been able to do much legislatively, Americans still give Congress low marks," wrote Gallup's Andrew Dugan.
"The 114th Congress begins its tenure with no immediate sign of renewed support, even from Republicans, although it is too early to know what partisans' reactions will be as Congress settles down to action. It is possible that congressional approval will rise, especially if Congress finds itself in a legislative showdown with Obama that rallies Republican support. However, Congress' low ratings in recent years suggest that convincing Americans that Congress is doing a good job will not prove easy for Republican leaders."
The poll was based on telephone interviews conducted Jan. 5-8 among a sample of 804 adults, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
