According to the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey, released annually since 2014, less than half of Americans can name most of the rights protected under the First Amendment and less than two-thirds can name the three branches of government.
The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s nationally representative survey, conducted in May 2024 with about 1,600 U.S. adults, finds levels of public knowledge essentially unchanged from 2023. As was true last year, most Americans could name only a single right guaranteed by the First Amendment: freedom of speech, provided by nearly 3 in 4 respondents.
The survey also found strong public support for several potential reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court, including term limits, mandatory retirement ages, and prohibiting justices from participating in cases in which they have “personal or financial interests.”
Results of the 2024 edition of the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey
The 2024 edition of the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey, released annually to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17, finds that:
- Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) can name all three branches of government.
- When asked what specific rights are guaranteed by the First Amendment, nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) name freedom of speech. Far fewer people recall the other four rights: the second most-often cited, freedom of religion, is named by just 39%.
- Over 80% of Americans support prohibiting Supreme Court justices from participating in cases where they have “personal or financial interests.” Nearly as many people support creating a formal ethics code for the court.
- A little over half of U.S. adults know that Democrats control the Senate (55%) and that Republicans control the House of Representatives (56%).
“Civics knowledge matters,” says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. “Those who do not understand the rights protected by the Constitution can neither cherish nor invoke them; those who do not know which party controls the House and Senate may misattribute credit or blame for action or inaction.”
The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey is a nationally representative survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. This year’s online survey of 1,590 U.S. adults was conducted May 1-23, 2024, for APPC by SSRS, an independent research company. The margin of error is ± 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
The branches of the United States government
The three branches: Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) can name all three branches of government, 13% can name two, 8% can name one, and 15% cannot name any, unchanged from last year.
As a reminder:
Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch consists of the U.S. Congress, which is divided into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This branch is responsible for making laws, declaring war, and controlling the federal budget.
Executive Branch
The Executive Branch is led by the President of the United States, who serves as both head of state and head of government. This branch is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws, conducting foreign policy, and commanding the armed forces.
Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is composed of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. This branch interprets the law, determines the constitutionality of laws, and applies the law to individual cases.
These three branches operate under a system of checks and balances, ensuring that no single branch becomes too powerful and that the rights of citizens are protected.
The First Amendment, say what?
The First Amendment
The First Amendment: Respondents were asked if they could name the specific rights guaranteed under the First Amendment:
- Three-quarters (74%) say freedom of speech
- Under 4 in 10 (39%) say freedom of religion
- Less than a third (29%) say freedom of the press
- Over a quarter (27%) say the right to assembly
- About 1 in 10 (11%) say the right to petition the government
Less than a third of respondents (30%) can name a majority of rights (three or more).
Although 11% correctly say the right to petition the government, twice as many (22%) incorrectly name the right to bear arms, which instead is protected by the Second Amendment.9/12/24
Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10)
As a reminder, here are the amendments to the US Constitution.
- First Amendment: Freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly; right to petition the government
- Second Amendment: Right to bear arms
- Third Amendment: Restrictions on quartering soldiers in private homes
- Fourth Amendment: Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
- Fifth Amendment: Rights of the accused, including protection against self-incrimination
- Sixth Amendment: Right to a speedy and public trial
- Seventh Amendment: Right to trial by jury in civil cases
- Eighth Amendment: Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
- Ninth Amendment: Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution
- Tenth Amendment: Powers reserved to the states
Later Amendments
- 11th Amendment: Limits on federal judicial power
- 12th Amendment: Revises presidential election procedures
- 13th Amendment: Abolishes slavery
- 14th Amendment: Citizenship rights and equal protection under the law
- 15th Amendment: Right to vote regardless of race
- 16th Amendment: Authorizes federal income tax
- 17th Amendment: Direct election of U.S. Senators
- 18th Amendment: Prohibition of alcohol (repealed by 21st Amendment)
- 19th Amendment: Women’s right to vote
- 20th Amendment: Terms of office for President and Congress
- 21st Amendment: Repeals Prohibition
- 22nd Amendment: Limits presidential terms
- 23rd Amendment: Presidential votes for the District of Columbia
- 24th Amendment: Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections
- 25th Amendment: Presidential succession and disability
- 26th Amendment: Lowers voting age to 18
- 27th Amendment: Congressional pay raises
