Of course, the president is not the only person—and the presidency is not the
only institution—people turn to for leadership. It is useful to consider the public’s
attitudes toward Congress as well. The annual average job approval ratings for
Congress and the president are shown in Figure 2.13. These data date from 1990
and paint an important and interesting picture: when Congress’s performance is
believed to be good, the president’s performance is rated lower, and vice versa.
This may reflect institutional tensions between Congress and the executive branch,
and, during the period in which these data are gathered, reflect partisan attitudes,
particularly during periods of divided government. Recent research suggests that
when Congress legislates it appears to trigger negative reactions among the public,
particularly those who are opposed to change.