Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey

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. (The civics knowledge survey had been conducted by telephone but beginning in 2023, the survey is being conducted online only. The mode change from telephone to online surveys means that earlier years’ findings on knowledge cannot be fairly be compared with those in 2023 onward.) Among the 2023 findings:

Many U.S. adults don’t know the rights protected under the First Amendment — and the only one with wide recognition is freedom of speech, which 77% knew. The other rights were known by under half of respondents: freedom of religion was known by 40% and freedom of the press by 28%. See the survey for full results.
While 66% in our could name all three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial), 17% could not name any.

Textured image of the United States Capitol dome on a cloudy day. Used in Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey.

Many Don’t Know Key Facts About U.S. Constitution, Annenberg Civics Study Finds

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 14, 2023

Many Americans don't know the rights protected in the First Amendment or basic facts such as the branches of government, the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey finds.

The U.S. Supreme Court Building.

Over Half of Americans Disapprove of Supreme Court as Trust Plummets

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey October 10, 2022

Trust that the Supreme Court is operating in the best interests of the American people has plummeted amid growing perceptions of partisanship, according to APPC's survey.

Americans’ Civics Knowledge Drops on First Amendment and Branches of Government

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 13, 2022

After two years of improvement, Americans’ knowledge of some basic facts about their government has fallen, with less than half able to name the three branches of government.

Americans’ Civics Knowledge Increases During a Stress-Filled Year

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 14, 2021

A growing number of Americans can name the branches of government and First Amendment freedoms, according to the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey.

Protestors. Image with Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey

Amid Pandemic and Protests, Civics Survey Finds Americans Know More of Their Rights

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 14, 2020

The 2020 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey finds Americans knowing more of their First Amendment rights and the three branches of government.

The Supreme Court building. Credit: Ian Dick.

Most Americans Trust the Supreme Court, But Think It Is ‘Too Mixed Up in Politics’

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey October 16, 2019

According to the latest Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey, 68% of Americans trust the Supreme Court to operate in the best interests of the American people, while 70% say that that court has “about the right amount of power.”

The 2019 Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey finds that Americans civics knowledge has increased but still has a long way to go.

Americans’ Civics Knowledge Increases But Still Has a Long Way to Go

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 12, 2019

The 2019 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey finds that the American public knows more about civics and constitutional rights than in the recent past -- but still has a long way to go in civics knowledge.

Screenshot of the Civics Learning Act of 2019, which featured data from the Annenberg Civics Survey.

Proposed U.S. ‘Civics Learning Act’ Cites APPC Civics Survey

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey January 31, 2019

The Annenberg Public Policy Center's annual civics survey is cited in the 2019 Civics Learning Act, proposed bipartisan legislation to increase K-12 civics education programming.

Supreme Court building at dusk.

Civics Knowledge Predicts Willingness to Protect Supreme Court

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 13, 2018

The annual Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey found that Americans are familiar with constitutional provisions on pardons and impeachment but know less about fundamentals like the three branches of government.

The First Amendment on a tablet outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Credit: Kjell Larsson.

Civics Survey Strikes a Chord on Many Sides of Political Spectrum

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 18, 2017

The Annenberg Public Policy Center's civics survey released for Constitution Day found that Americans lack knowledge of some basic constitutional issues, a fact that was of concern to media on many sides of the political spectrum.