Before reading this article, if you’re near a computer, go to americancivicliteracy.org and take the quiz. Then, feel free to compare your results to the statistics provided.
As U.S. citizens, we feel we are well versed in our nation’s history and knowledgeable of its laws and practices. However, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute recently found — for the third year in a row — that a great number of Americans know very little about this nation’s history and government workings.
According to americancivicliteracy.org, of the over 2,500 randomly selected Americans who took the 33-question test, 1,700 failed. The average score was a depressing 49 percent. Possibly even more frightening is the average score of the elected officials that were surveyed: 44 percent. That means, of course, that the average person, according to this quiz, is actually more versed in American history and the government than those they have chosen to speak for them.
Only 0.8 percent of those who took the test were able to achieve a score greater than or equal to 90 percent, or what would be considered an “A.”
Those surveyed who held a bachelor’s degree had an average score of just 57 percent, just 13 percentage points higher than those surveyed who only had a high school diploma. Yet, 74 percent of those with bachelor’s degrees and 72 percent of those with high school diplomas that took the quiz believe that college should teach our heritage.
Some of the results are simply awe striking. More than twice as many people knew that Paula Abdul is a judge on American Idol than knew that the quote “government of the people, by the people, for the people” is taken from President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, that, coincidentally, President-elect Barack Obama quoted in his acceptance speech.
Almost 40 percent of people surveyed believe that the president has the right to declare war, when he or she doesn’t. Of those elected officials who took the quiz, 30 percent were unaware that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are inalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence. Also, 20 percent of these same elected officials thought the Electoral College was established to supervise the first presidential debates.
I might be biased; I am, after all, a political science major and have studied a lot of these things more than most, but these results absolutely terrify me. The entire concept of democracy and a government of the people is that we are to be educated. Citizens have to be aware of their government: what it can and cannot do and how they can effect it.
The framers of the Constitution were nervous about entrusting too much power to the masses, as an uneducated bunch of voters will do much more harm than good, but in those days people did everything they could to learn about current events and stay involved in their state and local governments alike.
The problem facing this nation is no small one. At an increasing rate, Americans are becoming oblivious to the details of government and its inner workings. People are being misguided and dumbed down by television and the atrocious shows it tries to pass off as news.
So America, do us all a favor: Pick up a newspaper, or a book for that
Many U.S. citizens fail civics tests
Published: Monday, November 24, 2008
Updated: Monday, November 24, 2008
3 comments
SpamMaster 3000
(sorry about the double-post; firefox apparenty thought I meant to post again instead of just refreshing)
SpamMaster 3000
These results clearly show that the would-be presidential candidates must first stand in long lines in major cities, sing before a panel of judges (repurpose "electoral college"?) and the finalists go on to live televised performances where Fox allegedly impartially tallies the votes of those who phone in and pay $9 for the privilege. Maybe we shall give a bonus for the song dealing with that candidate's platform--maybe a percent or two.
SpamMaster 3000
These results clearly show that the would-be presidential candidates must first stand in long lines in major cities, sing before a panel of judges (repurpose "electoral college"?) and the finalists go on to live televised performances where Fox allegedly impartially tallies the votes of those who phone in and pay $9 for the privilege. Maybe we shall give a bonus for the song dealing with that candidate's platform--maybe a percent or two.
