The annual Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey is the latest chilling survey revealing the lack of knowledge of most Americans about their own system of government. While this country remains highly patriotic, most Americans are woefully ignorant of the details of their constitutional system. According to the survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, only 39 percent of Americans can name all three branches of government.
While the survey did so improve on other questions, 22 percent of Americans could not even name one branch of government. Fourteen percent could name two branches.
It is yet another example of how poorly we continue to educate elementary and high school students on our system of government.
That lack of knowledge is a serious threat to our democracy. The greatest protections against tyranny is an educated populace. If that is true, this country is in growing peril.