Final answer:
The truthfulness of the statement about public opinion in the US cannot be confirmed without specific survey data, but historical trends show that congressional approval ratings are relatively low, while the Supreme Court has more stable ratings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the statement that public opinion of institutions in general is low in the United States, with more than one-third of the public expressing confidence in only 5 out of 17 surveyed institutions, this can neither be confirmed nor denied with the information given. We, though, acknowledge that public confidence in various US institutions varies and is subject to change over time due to various factors such as domestic and international events. For example, congressional approval ratings have been notably low, hovering between 10% and 20%, influenced largely by the perceived efficiency and effectiveness of Congress. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, maintains more stable public approval ratings but can be affected by its decisions on significant cases. To determine the veracity of the statement, we would need access to specific data from the surveys cited. Without this data, any affirmation regarding the truthfulness of the original statement would be speculative.