TRENTON, NJ — A majority of registered voters believe the U.S. system of checks and balances is not working well, according to a new Quinnipiac University national poll, while congressional approval ratings have hit record highs and lows along party lines.
The poll found that 54% of voters think the system of checks and balances between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches is not functioning well, compared to 38% who say it is. Democrats were the most dissatisfied, with 80% saying the system is not working, while 57% of Republicans expressed confidence in it.
Congressional approval ratings showed a stark contrast. Only 21% of voters approve of how Democrats in Congress are handling their job, an all-time low, while 40% approve of Republicans’ performance—a record high.
“It’s a sobering slap down of historic proportions for the Democrats in Congress,” Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said. “Their Republican counterparts take a victory lap as the Democrats try to get their footing.”
The survey also measured public sentiment on Elon Musk’s influence in the U.S., finding that 55% of voters believe he has too much power, with significant partisan divides. Additionally, 45% of voters approve of Donald Trump’s handling of his job as president, while 49% disapprove, with similarly polarized views by party affiliation.