3 Issues Americans Overwhelmingly Support, But Washington Still Hasn't Delivered

America is often told that the country is more divided than ever. The polling tells a more complicated story. On several widely supported government reforms, Republicans, Democrats, and independents have reached broad agreement. Yet while lawmakers continue to debate these issues, public approval of Congress remains near historic lows, with Gallup showing congressional approval in the high teens to low 20% range.

A 2023 Pew Research Center national survey found that 87% of Americans support limiting how many terms members of Congress can serve. Despite decades of public support, Congress has not approved the constitutional amendment required to impose congressional term limits. The last major Senate vote on a term limits amendment occurred in 1995, when the proposal failed 59 to 36, falling short of the two thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment. They argue voters already have the ability to remove lawmakers through elections and that mandatory limits could reduce experience and institutional knowledge.

A 2025 University of Maryland Program for Public Consultation survey found that 86% of Americans support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks while serving in office. Despite bipartisan proposals, Congress has not enacted a nationwide ban. The 2025 End Congressional Stock Trading Act was introduced but did not advance to a final vote in both chambers. Opponents argue current disclosure requirements provide transparency and that a broad ban could create enforcement challenges.

A 2026 Harvard CAPS Harris Poll found that 74% of voters support requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, while 81% support requiring voter identification. The House passed the SAVE Act on April 10, 2025, by a vote of 220 to 208, but the legislation did not become law. The opposition argues noncitizen voting is already illegal under federal law and that additional documentation requirements could create barriers for some eligible voters.

The numbers reveal Americans are not always divided. On many major issues, they have already reached overwhelming agreement. The divide is between public expectations and a government that too often struggles to deliver results. When 75, 80, or nearly 90% of Americans agree, the question is no longer whether voters have made their voices heard. The question is whether Washington is willing to listen.