The Numbers Behind the Need

Congress

Congressional Approval

Congressional approval has spent much of the last decade below 25%. In recent years, Gallup has measured approval as low as 10-12%.

Source: Gallup Congressional Approval

Incumbents Almost Always Win

Despite historically low approval ratings, more than 90-95% of congressional incumbents who seek reelection typically win. Some election cycles exceed 97%.

Americans Believe Congress Is Corrupt

A majority of Americans believe corruption in Congress is widespread, and most oppose members of Congress trading individual stocks while in office.

Length of Service

• Average House member: approximately 8 years in office
• Average Senator: approximately 12 years in office
• Many members serve for decades

Average Age

The current Congress is among the oldest in U.S. history.

Congressional Stock Trading

Congress Can Trade Individual Stocks

Members of Congress may buy and sell individual stocks while serving in office, provided they comply with disclosure laws under the STOCK Act.

Source: STOCK Act

Late Disclosure Penalties

The standard civil penalty for late STOCK Act disclosure violations is $200, though larger penalties are legally possible under certain circumstances.

Bipartisan Concern

Bills to prohibit congressional stock trading have been introduced repeatedly by both Republicans and Democrats, but none has yet become law.

Money in Politics

Campaign Spending

Federal election spending regularly exceeds $10 billion during presidential election cycles.

Source: Federal Election Commission | OpenSecrets

Lobbying

Organizations spend billions of dollars each year lobbying the federal government.

Source: OpenSecrets - Federal Lobbying

Congress and Crime

Since the 1970s, dozens of members of Congress have been convicted of federal crimes including bribery, fraud, tax evasion, corruption, and campaign finance violations. These cases have increased over time, yet meaningful consequences remain rare and enforcement mechanisms have proven insufficient to deter misconduct.

Source: Department of Justice | Congressional Research Service | Historical congressional records

Trust in Government

Public Trust

Only a small percentage of Americans say they trust the federal government to do what is right "just about always" or "most of the time."

Source: Pew Research Center

Voting

2024 Presidential Election: The Participation Gap

Using the most recent national data from the 2024 presidential election:

Out of Every 100 Eligible Americans

• 74 are registered to vote
• 65 actually vote
• 9 are registered but stay home on election day
• 26 are not even registered

The Scale of Non-Participation

• About 154 million people voted in 2024
• About 82 million eligible citizens did not vote
• Of those non-voters, roughly 62 million were not registered
• About 20 million were registered but chose not to vote
• Local elections often have turnout below 30%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau | Election Assistance Commission

Elections

• Less than 10% of House races are considered competitive in many election cycles
• Gerrymandering reduces competition in many districts
• Average campaign cost for House and Senate races continues to rise each cycle

Source: Ballotpedia | Brennan Center | Cook Political Report

Federal Spending

• National debt exceeds $34 trillion
• Interest payments on the debt now exceed $1 trillion annually
• Deficit spending continues in most fiscal years
• Spending per taxpayer continues to grow faster than wages

Source: Congressional Budget Office | U.S. Treasury

Civic Participation

• Americans spend far more time consuming political content than participating in public meetings or contacting elected officials
• Local elections often have turnout below 30%
• A significant percentage of Americans cannot name their own Representative

Did You Know?