Survey: Many Americans have limited knowledge of constitutional rights

09/17/2024 / By Laura Harris

A recent Annenberg Constitution Day Civics survey has revealed that Americans grasp the basic structure of the government, but their knowledge about constitutional rights, particularly the First Amendment, remains limited.

The survey, released ahead of Constitution Day on Sept. 17, reveals that 65 percent of Americans can correctly identify the three branches of the U.S. government: executive, legislative and judicial. This suggests a solid foundation in understanding the separation of powers.

However, while 74 percent could name freedom of speech as a First Amendment right, far fewer Americans recognize other key rights. Only 39 percent mention freedom of religion, 29 percent identify freedom of the press, 27 percent recall the right to assembly and just 11 percent know the right to petition the government. (Related: Former Biden advisor claims First Amendment is OUT OF CONTROL.)

Alarmingly, 22 percent incorrectly cite the right to bear arms, which is part of the Second Amendment.

The survey also examined public awareness about the U.S. Supreme Court and their opinions on potential reforms. Notably, 86 percent of respondents correctly know that justices are appointed rather than elected, while 85 percent correctly know that judges serve life terms. Additionally, 56 percent recognize that the Supreme Court, not the president, has the ultimate authority in determining the constitutionality of presidential actions.

In the court reform, public sentiment is clear: 82 percent of respondents support barring justices from ruling on cases where they have conflicts of interest; 77 percent favor implementing a formal ethics code for the justices; 69 percent endorse a mandatory retirement age; and 68 percent back the idea of term limits.

However, opinions on court reform vary widely by political affiliation. Both Democrats (87 percent) and Republicans (83 percent) agree on the need to disqualify justices with conflicts of interest from certain cases, but Democrats show stronger support for other reforms. For instance, 88 percent of Democrats support a formal ethics code, compared to 70 percent of Republicans.

The survey also revealed a connection between civics knowledge and attitudes toward court reform. Those with higher civics knowledge are more likely to back reforms, such as barring justices from cases with conflicts of interest, but are less inclined to support measures like allowing public votes to overturn controversial court rulings.

Experts weigh in on gaps in civics knowledge, push for Supreme Court reforms

In line with the results, R. Lance Holbert, director of the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, stressed the importance of understanding fundamental rights.

“Civics education needs to be a life-long pursuit. The education materials provided through Annenberg Classroom and the Civics Renewal Network can aid in building up the nation’s civics knowledge reserves that produce a wide range of direct and indirect benefits,” Holbert said.

Moreover, Matt Levendusky, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, warned that if public trust in the court’s independence continues to erode, it could result in reforms that undermine the power of the judiciary.

“The court’s independence has long been sustained by its strong bipartisan support in the public. If that vanishes, the court may find itself reformed or constrained in ways that weaken its power,” Levendusky said.

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This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com.