WASHINGTON -- Americans' confidence in Congress has declined to a record low of 10 percent, ranking the legislative body last on a list of 16 US societal institutions for the fourth straight year, said a Gallup poll released Thursday.

The confidence level is also the worst for any US institution since records began in 1973, the June 1-4 poll shows. Last year, the approval rate for Congress was 13 percent.

Americans remain most confident in the military, at 76 percent, followed by small business at 65 percent, the police at 57 percent, the church or organized religion at 48 percent, and the presidency at 36 percent.

The percentage of Americans' confidence in Congress has shown a trend of decline since 1972, when it reached the record high of 42 percent.

Democrats, independents and Republicans are about equally likely to express low confidence in Congress, Gallup said.

The divided Congress, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans the House, is likely part of the reason for the low levels of confidence in Congress, where Americans are frustrated with its inability to get much done, it added.