The Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey, conducted since 2006, focuses on the public’s understanding of the Constitution of the United States. Since 2013, the civics knowledge survey has been conducted annually for Constitution Day (Sept. 17) as the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey. Among the most recent 2021 findings:
- In 2021, 56% of U.S. adults could name all three branches of government – the highest level seen in this survey. In 2006 only 33% could name all the branches.
- Asked to name the five rights protected by the First Amendment, more Americans could name most of those rights. In 2021, freedom of speech was named by 74% (up from 48% in 2017).