Explainer: The President’s Approval Rating

Do presidential approval ratings influence you?

The president’s approval rating is a measure of public sentiment towards a president’s job performance at a particular point in time.
The first presidential approval ratings were conducted by research company Gallup in 1937.
Presidential approval ratings can rise and fall over time. For example, George W. Bush received a 90% approval rating after the Sept. 11 attacks. However, when he left office, he had a 33 percent approval rating.

Approval ratings are typically calculated through public opinion polls run by polling organizations and media companies, such as Gallup, Pew Research Center and CNN.
Gallup conducts presidential approval ratings by selecting a random sample of U.S. adults to participate in a telephone survey. The survey asks questions about their approval or disapproval of the president's job performance. Gallup then releases the results as a percentage of those who approve or disapprove of the president.

Presidential approval ratings can impact the president's political agenda and broader political landscape by:

Influencing policy decisions: High approval ratings can empower a president to pursue a certain agenda, while low approval ratings can cause them to change course or prioritize popular issues. High approval ratings can also help a president negotiate in Congress, while low ratings can make it harder for them to reach agreement.
Shaping public opinion: Presidential approval ratings shape public opinion of the president, their policies, and the current political landscape.
Indicating re-election outcomes: High approval ratings are often seen as a reliable predictor of a president winning re-election.

While approval ratings reflect public sentiment on a president's performance, they aren't the only measure of success or failure.
There are several reasons why this is the case:
Approval ratings are subjective: Approval ratings are based on individual opinions and can be influenced by factors such as ideology, personal experience, and media coverage.
Approval ratings are affected by external factors: External factors that are beyond the president’s control, like the economy, international events, and natural disasters can influence presidential approval ratings.
Approval ratings are limited: Approval ratings assess the president's overall job performance, but may not capture specific policy areas or actions.

Do presidential approval ratings affect your opinion of the current president?

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