RICHMOND, Va. - A wide majority of Americans know the U.S. Constitution is important, but less than one-third of them say they've taken the time to read the entire thing.
Results of a nationwide survey released Thursday by the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier show 86 percent of respondents recognize the importance of the document, the 223-year-old framework for American government.
Thirty-one percent say they think they understand the Constitution "a lot" and 48 percent say they understand "some" of it. But only 28 percent say they've read all of the document, and 14 percent say they've read most of it, according to a report by Sean O'Brien, executive director at the Orange, Va., center.
Even though many Americans haven't examined the Constitution itself, O'Brien notes that they do have knowledge of its core ideals, which have become an integral part of American life.
"We don't think twice when we talk about free speech or freedom of the press," he said in a telephone interview. "But over 200 years ago _ or until more recently if you were African-American _ those weren't things you could take for granted."
The survey also found that respondents 18 to 24 years old say they understand the Constitution much less than older people. That's discouraging because younger people presumably should have fresh knowledge from studying American history and government in high school or college. They also said the Constitution doesn't affect them on a day-to-day basis, O'Brien said.
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10 comments:
"younger people presumably should have fresh knowledge from studying American history and government in high school or college."
Ha ha .
What makes you think they studied it? It isn't required anymore in most places, and even when it is taught, they teach the PC version.
We're in big trouble. Make sure YOUR kids know their history-- tell them about it yourself!
The real question should be is how many of our congressmen have read the Constitution in its entirety. I bet the results would be sad.
You must be kidding....LOL!!! Kids being taught the Constitution and American History??? LOL!!! If they learned about the Constitution, then they wouldn't be so inclined to fall for the socialist crap that they are so fond of...they would be more alarmed at the infringement of our rights...the government CAN'T have THAT, can they? And apparently, the only history they are taught is how bad the United States has been to the world, to minorities, and to other cultures, even the ones who try to kill us.
9:51, guess you enjoyed all that rosy "America is a shining Angel" crap that spoon fed to you. People of all ages don't know the constitution because it's alot easier to make up your own version (mentally) then to study the original.
The majority of the people that don't grasp the Constitution are Democrats.
10:45...I did enjoy it!...the parts about a collection of colonies defeating the biggest, strongest military power at the time in order to gain their right to live their lives in freedom...and the part about capitalism turning those colonies into the mightest economic and military machine the world has ever known (in 200 years!)....and how a nation fought brother against brother in order to right a terrible wrong and give ALL men freedom...or when countries like Germany wanted to take freedom from millions, it was the USA who essentially saved the world (TWICE!!)...or how this country fed and clothed MILLIONS when their own country couldn't do it?? Yeah, I loved it. have we made mistakes? Yeah, we have...so did my mom and dad (as did yours and everyone elses), but the great good they did FAR exceeds the occasional error. I can see YOU are not a big fan of those things...how sad...If more of our children were taught THESE things, instead of how badly we've treated these rest of the world (facetious comment) they would have PRIDE and RESPECT for our history instead of nonchalance, ignorance and a misguided sense of entitlement.
11:15 you're right its all those democrats out there who conveniently forget the "a well regulated militia" part of the 2nd amendment and think its perfectly ok for anyone to walk around packing in public, and its all them democrats who want to deny citizenship to children born on our soil, and its all them democrats who want more god in our government... oh wait i think we both got it backwards
1:35 your sarcasm can't hide your ignorance. the 2nd amendment right is an individual right - as is the first. In Virginia it has always been ok to walk around "packing in public". No problems with it there. If it were up to you there would be no firearms anywhere but in the hands of the government.
You ahd better check with your boy Frank Kratovil on the citizenship rights of children born of illegal immigrants on our soil. He believes that the constitution BANS these children from automatic citizenship.
God in our government? No....just the right to worship our god without interference from our government - in school or anywhere we choose.
1:24 I never heard history told so well. I agree and intend to show your post to my grandchildren. Thank you so much.
9:11....thanks very much...I love this nation and what we stand for...proud to show it, say it and defend it. And I'm especially proud of the ones who went to defend it, but never came back. Buried or missing in every part of the world, but never forgotten. Never.
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