This paper examines congressional approval ratings through the lens of responsible party government and citizens' assessments based on partisanship/ideology.
Data & Methods:
- Survey data from American National Election Studies (ANES) spanning 2014–2020
- Regression analysis to identify relationships between voter characteristics and approval ratings
Key Findings:
- Ideological alignment with parties significantly influences approval of congressional actions
- Partisanship remains a strong predictor but its effect varies substantially across partisan divides
- Citizens increasingly differentiate between party responsibility for specific policy outcomes versus broad representation functions
Why It Matters:
This research clarifies how contemporary citizens evaluate responsible party government in the U.S. context, revealing both persistence and evolving expectations about congressional accountability.
