SPOKANE, Wash. — While millions of U.S. citizens voted in the 2024 general election, the majority of voters lack knowledge of their own country’s foundation or understand how the government is run.
Over 150 million Americans voted in the 2024 general election, per U.S. News & World Report but many Americans have trouble understanding basic principles like the different branches of government, what rights the U.S. Constitution protects, and U.S. historical events.
A study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center through the University of Pennsylvania found that less than half of Americans can name the rights protected under the First Amendment, and two-thirds can name the three branches of government.
The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey revealed that only 65% of Americans in 2024 can name all three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial). When asked about the First Amendment, 75% identified freedom of speech, while only 39% mentioned freedom of religion. Other rights included in the First Amendment were rarely noted, with just 7% able to correctly list any of them (freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government).
According to the 50-state survey by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, only four in 10 can demonstrate a basic understanding of history. Less than 30% could explain why the colonists fought the British or who Benjamin Franklin was. The study also found that people 65 and older answered the most questions correctly, followed by the age group of 45 to 65 and those below 45 in last place. According to the national survey, only 15% of American adults knew when the U.S. Constitution was written (1787) and how many amendments there are in the Constitution (27 amendments).
In 2018, one in three Americans could pass a multiple-choice test consisting of items taken from the U.S. Citizenship Test. This test asks basic information on U.S. history, symbolic dates, leaders, and laws.
Preparing younger generations with the understanding of how the United States is run can ensure a more prepared generation to take the lead and carry out American values and the unique system that our country was founded on. Parents and kids also have more resources to learn how local, state and federal government agencies are run.
Programs like Constitutional Sources Project, PragerU, ABOTA Foundation, Annenberg Learner, and National History Day are some of the many programs that offer free resources to help kids not only learn but also get involved in the U.S. government.
To test your knowledge of your country’s government, visit Study for the Test | USCIS.
