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Highlights of Survey

Telephone Survey of 1,000 U.S. Citizens Nationwide

Demographics of these Citizens:

Gender:
Male.		46%
Female		54%
Education:
Less than high school		10%
High School graduate		31%
Some college		26%
College graduate		20%
Post college		10%
Age:
Between 18 and 29		18%
Between 30 and 39		15%
Between 40 and 49		22%
Between 50 and 59		19%
60 and older		25%
Annual Household Income:
Under $25,000		23%
$25,000 - Under $35,000		20%
$35,000 - Under $50,000		21%
$50,000 - Under $75,000		13%
$75,000 - Under $100,000		5%
$100,000 and over		0%

The vast majority of Americans cherish the U.S. Constitution but do not know much about it. Yet most of us believe that the health of our Constitutional democracy depends on active and informed citizenry.
Specifically,

• 91% of Americans believe that the U.S. Constitution is important to them; and
• 84% believe that to work as intended, our system of government depends on active and informed citizens, BUT;
• More than half of Americans don't know the number of Senators;
• About 1 out of 3 don't know the number of branches of the Federal Government;
• 1 out of 6 believe that the Constitution establishes America as a Christian nation;
• 20% believe that only lawyers can understand the Constitution;
• Almost one-quarter cannot name a single right guaranteed to us by the First Amendment; and
• 84% believe that the U.S. Constitution is the document that states that "all men are created equal", thus confusing it with the Declaration of Independence.

Americans Cherish Their Constitution

To the majority of Americans, the Constitution is more than just a two-century old document lying under glass in the National Archives:

• Over three-quarters say the Constitution is important to them, makes them proud and is related to their lives.
• Over 70% feel that the Constitution influences events today, more than 200 years after it was written.

More over, when asked to describe in their own words what the U.S. Constitution means to them, Americans refer to the Constitution as the bedrock upon which our society and laws are based.

What Does The U.S. Constitution Mean To You?

• Freedom (34%)
• Basis of our rights (20%)
• Our system of laws (11%)
• Established this country (7%)
• Established our government
• Determines our quality of life (3%)
• Everything (3%)

But Most Don't Feel Knowledgeable About It

More than three quarters (83%) admit that they know only "some" or "very little" about the specifics of the document:

How Uniformed is the American Public?

• Only 6% can name all four rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. (24% cannot name even one. 27% can only name one. 43% can name two or three.)
• 62% cannot name all three branches of the Federal government. (One-third cannot name even one. 14% can only name one. 15% can name two.)
• 35% believe that the Constitution mandates English as the official language.
• Only 7% can correctly identify the Constitutional Convention as the authors.
• 4 in 5 do not know how many amendments there are to the Constitution.
• 1 in 5 do not know that the President is Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• 84% believe that the U.S. Constitution is the document that states that "all men are created equal", thus confusing it with the Declaration of Independence.
• 1 out of 6 believe that the Constitution establishes America as a Christian nation.
• 32% believe that John Hancock had a hand in drafting the Constitution.

Only 5% Can Correctly Answer 10 Rudimentary Questions About the Constitution

Although 84% of the people believe that to work as intended, our system of government depends on active and informed citizens, only 5% can correctly answer 10 rudimentary questions* about the Constitution. And 6% are unable to answer even one question correctly:

• Very Knowledgeable (answering 8-10 correctly)
• Somewhat knowledgeable (answering 5-7 correctly)
• Not Knowledgeable (answering 0-4 correctly)

Some misconceptions about the Constitution among a handful of people:

• The Constitution was written in France.
• The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called the Pledge of Allegiance.
• One of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment is "freedom from fear".
• The Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces is Colin Powell.
• The Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces is Norman Schwarzkopf.
• Only the rights of judges and lawyers are protected by the Constitution.
• There are only 7 Senators in the U.S. Congress.
• The Constitution was written in 1892.

"The people make the Constitution, and the people can unmake it. It is the creature of their own will, and lives only by their will."
John Marshall, Chief Justice of The Supreme Court