Final answer:
Citizens generally view Congress with increasing disapproval. Approval ratings for Congress are typically lower than those for the presidency and have often been under 20 percent in recent years. The low approval reflects public dissatisfaction with congressional partisanship and inefficiency in lawmaking.The correct option is 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
Citizens view Congress with increasing disapproval. This sentiment is reflected in the historically low approval ratings Congress has received when compared to the presidency. Although individual senators and representatives may be favored by their constituents, resulting in high reelection rates, the institution of Congress itself is often criticized for perceived inefficiency, partisanship, and the inability to execute lawmaking effectively.
Public opinion of Congress has been affected by various domestic and international events. For instance, Congressional approval reached a high of around 40 percent during periods of productive legislative action such as the first half of President Obama's first term but plummeted to a low of 9 percent following events like the federal government shutdown in October 2013. More recently, as of March 2021, approval of Congress was around 34 percent, though it remains generally lower than the approval ratings for the presidency and Supreme Court.
The consistent low approval of Congress can be attributed to a number of factors including partisan rivalry, fiscal shutdowns, and a general public perception that Congress fails to adequately address pressing issues.