Rating The Executives

President Obama's approval rating, while still low, remains much higher than the evaluation Americans give to Congress - the nation's legislature. And in this Economist/YouGov Poll, that pattern is the same when Americans look at their state leaders: Governors do better than state legislatures in public opinion. 44% this week approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President; 48% disapprove.

Congress's approval rating is only 16%. 61% disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job. The poor assessment of Congress has changed little since the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in January.

At the state level, Americans give their governor a negative rating, too: 32% approve of how their Governor is handling his or her job, 37% disapprove. Republicans (who control more State Houses) are more positive: by 47% to 34%, they approve of their state's Governor. Democrats disapprove 38% to 28%. However, Republican Governors score no better than Democratic Governors do among their respective constituents.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the governor of your state is doing his or her job?

State legislatures get lower ratings than Governors (although they fare better that the U.S. Congress does). 23% approve of the way their state legislature is handling its job, 45% disapprove. Republicans (who control more state legislatures) show higher approval than do Democrats.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the legislature of your state is doing its job?