35% of Americans Can’t Name All Three Branches of Government

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A new survey by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center has revealed significant gaps in Americans’ basic civic knowledge. The survey found that 35% of U.S. adults cannot name all three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Only 65% correctly identified all three, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

First Amendment Knowledge Also Lacking

The survey also examined the public’s understanding of the First Amendment, which guarantees several fundamental rights. While 73% of respondents named freedom of speech, fewer recognized other key protections. Only 43% identified freedom of religion, 31% named freedom of assembly, 29% recognized freedom of the press, and just 12% knew about the right to petition the government.

Only 9% of respondents could name all five protections, while 24% could not name a single one. Notably, 25% mistakenly believed the right to bear arms, protected under the Second Amendment, is a First Amendment right.

Experts Warn of Consequences

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director emerita of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, emphasized the importance of civic knowledge, stating, “Ignorance is costly. You can’t protect and cherish rights that you don’t know you have.”

The findings raise questions about the state of civic education and national discourse. With many people expressing strong opinions on politics, the survey highlights a troubling disconnect between public engagement and basic knowledge of the system they are part of.

The survey, conducted from August 6-9, included a nationally representative sample of 1,034 U.S. adults. It underscores the need for improved civic education and greater awareness of constitutional rights. The results also prompt reflection on whether elected officials possess the same level of knowledge, with many questioning whether members of Congress would pass the test.

Source: The Gateway Pundit

Written by

Connor Davis