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.