From a broad, long-term perspective, Congress has never been popular. The average annual congressional job approval rating since 1974 is 34%. Still, this year’s 17% annual average is by one point the lowest yearly average Gallup has recorded. It is slightly below the annual averages of 19% recorded in 2010 and in 2008, as well as two years in which Gallup recorded only one measure of congressional approval — 1979 and in 1992, with readings of 19% and 18%, respectively…

Over the last three months, Democrats have been almost as negative as Republicans and independents about Congress, with Democrats in December at 14% approval, independents at 7%, and Republicans at 12%. The partisan groups began to hold Congress in similarly negative esteem in in August, when Democratic approval of Congress dropped. Through much of 2009 and 2010, and in several months this year, Democrats had been more positive about Congress than either independents or Republicans.