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Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government
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Do they even teach civics/government in schools these days?

Only 26% of respondents in an August 13, 2017 survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center could correctly name all three branches of the federal government. And an additional 33% (the largest percentage of respondents to this particular survey question) couldn't name ANY branch at all. Those who could name at least one branch totaled 27% and two branches, another 13% (1% of respondents refused to answer the question).

The survey is littered with questions about government, our Constitution, the rights of U.S. citizens (and non-citizens) and so forth. "Ouch!" is all I have to say:

Appendix_Civics_survey_2017.pdf

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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Army, Navy and Air Force, right?

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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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Legislative, Judicial, and Mar a Lago?

''The enemy isn't conservatism. The enemy isn't liberalism. The enemy is bulls**t.''

—Lars-Erik Nelson
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [JasoninHalifax] [ In reply to ]
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JasoninHalifax wrote:
Army, Navy and Air Force, right?

I thought "Larry, Moe, Curly." ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [Danno] [ In reply to ]
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Danno wrote:
Legislative, Judicial, and Mar a Lago?



Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [JasoninHalifax] [ In reply to ]
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JasoninHalifax wrote:
Danno wrote:
Legislative, Judicial, and Mar a Lago?



LOL!

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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big kahuna wrote:
Do they even teach civics/government in schools these days?

In our public schools? Sure they do. Why do you ask?

:-(
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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Only 26% of respondents in an August 13, 2017 survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center could correctly name all three branches of the federal government.

I'm surprised it's that high...

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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [Sanuk] [ In reply to ]
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How bout dem teachers unions?
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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Rock, Paper & Scissors

"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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Some are too busy trying to get the holy trinity in public schools than worry about government.

I talk to myself because mine are the only answers I'll accept - George Carlin
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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The 33% is the most Disturbing.

I could see quite a few people leaving out the Supreme Court and instead listing the House and Senate separately.
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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You make it sound like it's only young people who don't know but at 27% surely lots of older folks too. Educated before the schools supposedly went to crap.
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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It would be interesting to see how responses have changed over time. I'll admit, I'm a little jaded about these, since I've seen decades of "OMG, how ill-informed is everybody!" polls. (BTW, I suspect that knowledge of Bible quotes has plummeted over the past century). Everyone in 8th & 10th & 12th grade has the structure of government drilled into them. Are a large percentage of people basically incapable of holding on to basic knowledge? The answer clearly seems to be "yes". It goes a long way toward explaining the rise of propaganda in an internet age when folks simply have limited tools and are called on to process too much info.
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [ThisIsIt] [ In reply to ]
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ThisIsIt wrote:
You make it sound like it's only young people who don't know but at 27% surely lots of older folks too. Educated before the schools supposedly went to crap.

I didn't mean to imply that it had to do with young people, with my remark about civics in school. Probably many of the demographic cohorts surveyed were pre-Millennial. But I don't think civics/government has been a priority in schools for some time. I can remember being a substitute teacher K-12 in several public school systems in my area and I don't recall much being highlighted in that arena.

I'm a (late, bordering on GenX) Baby Boomer, and we had civics/government (including in social studies) every year, right up through a capstone senior civics project. My sister, who's three years younger than me and who went exclusively to Detroit public schools, also said she had some form of civics and/or government from junior high up through her senior year. Who knows what's gone on over the last 20-25 years, though.

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [oldandslow] [ In reply to ]
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oldandslow wrote:
It would be interesting to see how responses have changed over time. I'll admit, I'm a little jaded about these, since I've seen decades of "OMG, how ill-informed is everybody!" polls. (BTW, I suspect that knowledge of Bible quotes has plummeted over the past century). Everyone in 8th & 10th & 12th grade has the structure of government drilled into them. Are a large percentage of people basically incapable of holding on to basic knowledge? The answer clearly seems to be "yes". It goes a long way toward explaining the rise of propaganda in an internet age when folks simply have limited tools and are called on to process too much info.

Great points, all.

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [Tatonka] [ In reply to ]
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Tatonka wrote:
Some are too busy trying to get the holy trinity in public schools than worry about government.

"Sex, drugs, rock and roll"? ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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big kahuna wrote:
Tatonka wrote:
Some are too busy trying to get the holy trinity in public schools than worry about government.


"Sex, drugs, rock and roll"? ;-)

Raspberry, orange, and lime. All about the Rainbow Sherbet

I talk to myself because mine are the only answers I'll accept - George Carlin
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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Solids Gen-Xer here at 47 years old




I've got one kid in 8th grade and one in 9th, they both hit US civics pretty good in 7th grade, but neither is touching civics much this year. for the 8th grader, it's early US history, so he'll touch on the subject some as it pertains to how the US govt formed up through the civil rights era. My 9th grader is taking AP Human Geography, not much of a chance they'll cover US civics in meaningful detail.

--------------------------
The secret of a long life is you try not to shorten it.
-Nobody
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [FishyJoe] [ In reply to ]
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FishyJoe wrote:
The 33% is the most Disturbing.

I could see quite a few people leaving out the Supreme Court and instead listing the House and Senate separately.

Mr. oldandslow made a few good points about retention of knowledge. After all, how many of us -- once we learn these things in school -- retain all that much of it into later adulthood? The answer is probably a low percentage of us actually do.

Apparently, elsewhere in the survey, a healthy percentage of people can't name even a single one of the first five amendments that make up the Constitution's Bill of Rights (I struggled with remembering the Third Amendment and its "no quartering of soldiers" injunction).

Many also couldn't provide any information as to what's contained in the First Amendment, which is an amendment currently at the forefront of discussion in much of the media as it examines this dust-up between the Antifa folks and the Neo-Nazi/White Nationalist folks. (Hint: "the right to free speech," etc. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [Tatonka] [ In reply to ]
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Tatonka wrote:
big kahuna wrote:
Tatonka wrote:
Some are too busy trying to get the holy trinity in public schools than worry about government.


"Sex, drugs, rock and roll"? ;-)


Raspberry, orange, and lime. All about the Rainbow Sherbet

I hear that, my brother from another mother. I loves me some Rainbow Sherbet! :-) :-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [mck414] [ In reply to ]
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mck414 wrote:
Solids Gen-Xer here at 47 years old




I've got one kid in 8th grade and one in 9th, they both hit US civics pretty good in 7th grade, but neither is touching civics much this year. for the 8th grader, it's early US history, so he'll touch on the subject some as it pertains to how the US govt formed up through the civil rights era. My 9th grader is taking AP Human Geography, not much of a chance they'll cover US civics in meaningful detail.

I took a graduate class in human geography as part of my master's in homeland security studies. It mainly was examined in terms of how different areas of the earth's surface might have an effect on the ideologies/belief systems that arose, to the point where terrorism might develop as an outgrowth of such systems. It was interesting for sure. And yes, I don't think your 9th grader will be exposed to much in the way of at least straightforward civics in that class. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [mck414] [ In reply to ]
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mck414 wrote:
Solids Gen-Xer here at 47 years old




I've got one kid in 8th grade and one in 9th, they both hit US civics pretty good in 7th grade, but neither is touching civics much this year. for the 8th grader, it's early US history, so he'll touch on the subject some as it pertains to how the US govt formed up through the civil rights era. My 9th grader is taking AP Human Geography, not much of a chance they'll cover US civics in meaningful detail.

Very similar for my son who is in 9th grade.
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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big kahuna wrote:
Apparently, elsewhere in the survey, a healthy percentage of people can't name even a single one of the first five amendments that make up the Constitution's Bill of Rights (I struggled with remembering the Third Amendment and its "no quartering of soldiers" injunction)



Schoolhouse Rock, it ain't

"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [FishyJoe] [ In reply to ]
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FishyJoe wrote:
The 33% is the most Disturbing.

I could see quite a few people leaving out the Supreme Court and instead listing the House and Senate separately.

When did the Supreme Court become a branch of government?

----------------------------------
"Go yell at an M&M"
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [klehner] [ In reply to ]
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klehner wrote:
FishyJoe wrote:
The 33% is the most Disturbing.

I could see quite a few people leaving out the Supreme Court and instead listing the House and Senate separately.


When did the Supreme Court become a branch of government?

i could see this imprecision being made. based on the scant knowledge of branches of govt i think it would be depressing to quiz the average person on what comprises the judicial branch. i doubt very many know that it's SCOTUS, appeals, and district courts (and some others i'm vaguely familiar with).

how many people do you think know that u.s. attys are part of the executive but u.s. district courts are part of the judicial?

Dan Empfield
aka Slowman
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [Slowman] [ In reply to ]
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Slowman wrote:
klehner wrote:
FishyJoe wrote:
The 33% is the most Disturbing.

I could see quite a few people leaving out the Supreme Court and instead listing the House and Senate separately.


When did the Supreme Court become a branch of government?


i could see this imprecision being made. based on the scant knowledge of branches of govt i think it would be depressing to quiz the average person on what comprises the judicial branch. i doubt very many know that it's SCOTUS, appeals, and district courts (and some others i'm vaguely familiar with).

how many people do you think know that u.s. attys are part of the executive but u.s. district courts are part of the judicial?

I guess we can count FishyJoe as one whose response would depress you, then.

Anyone who paid attention to the sacking of US Attorneys by the head of the Executive branch would know where they lie.

----------------------------------
"Go yell at an M&M"
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [klehner] [ In reply to ]
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klehner wrote:
Anyone who paid attention to the sacking of US Attorneys by the head of the Executive branch would know where they lie.

of course. but if only 1 in 4 can name the 3 branches, what percentage of your neighbors and mine can answer questions another level down? as the bad sergeant said to the good in "platoon", "there's the way things ought to be; and there's the way things are."

Dan Empfield
aka Slowman
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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After all, how many of us -- once we learn these things in school -- retain all that much of it into later adulthood?
---

You think we wait until adulthood to forget stuff. I teach stuff and have kids forget it by the next day. They even go so far as:
Them: You never taught us this
Me: Open up to the yesterday's notes and re-read the first entry
Them: Well, umm, I...
Me: It might be a good idea for you to study just a smidgeon. At the very least, re-read your notes before making accusations
Them: You suck






Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [Tri-Banter] [ In reply to ]
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Tri-Banter wrote:
After all, how many of us -- once we learn these things in school -- retain all that much of it into later adulthood?
---

You think we wait until adulthood to forget stuff. I teach stuff and have kids forget it by the next day. They even go so far as:
Them: You never taught us this
Me: Open up to the yesterday's notes and re-read the first entry
Them: Well, umm, I...
Me: It might be a good idea for you to study just a smidgeon. At the very least, re-read your notes before making accusations
Them: You suck

Hahahahaha! At least they know the ad hominem attack. ;-)

"Politics is just show business for ugly people."
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [big kahuna] [ In reply to ]
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What is worse. 38% are creationists.
  • 38% say God created man in present form, lowest in 35 years

But the number is going down. Less religion equal more knowledge.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/210956/belief-creationist-view-humans-new-low.aspx
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Re: Survey: Only 26% of American Could Name All Three Branches of Government [klehner] [ In reply to ]
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klehner wrote:

When did the Supreme Court become a branch of government?

Quote:
The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

The Supreme Court is the only one that's Constitutionally required!
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