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. Among the most recent findings:

In 2020, over half of Americans (51%) were able to name all three branches of government – the highest level seen in this survey.
Asked to name the five rights protected by the First Amendment, in 2020 73% of Americans named freedom of speech — up from 48% in 2017. In fact, Americans’ ability to name all five rights increased substantially since the question was asked in 2017 — perhaps as a result of controversies that have highlighted those rights in the news media.

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.

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.

The U.S. Capitol Building seen from the steps of the Supreme Court. Credit: U.S. Department of State/IIP Bureau.

Americans Are Poorly Informed About Basic Constitutional Provisions

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 12, 2017

Many Americans are poorly informed about basic constitutional provisions, according to APPC's Constitution Day Civics Survey. It finds that 37% can’t name any of the rights under the First Amendment and only 26% can name all three branches of government.

Aerial view of the Capitol Building. Credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Americans’ Knowledge of the Branches of Government Is Declining

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 13, 2016

Only a quarter of Americans can name all three branches of government, the poorest showing on that question in a half-dozen years, a new survey on civic knowledge has found. The GOP presidential candidate was known to only 84 percent of the public.

Is There a Constitutional Right to Own a Home or a Pet?

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 16, 2015

One American in three says that the Bill of Rights guarantees the right to own your own home, while 1 in 10 thinks that it guarantees the right to own a pet, according to an APPC national survey released for Constitution Day.

Americans know surprisingly little about their government, survey finds

Annenberg Civics Knowledge Survey September 17, 2014

Americans show great uncertainty when it comes to answering basic questions about how their government works, a survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center has found. The survey was released for Constitution Day, Sept. 17, in conjunction with the launch of the Civics Renewal Network.