From high-school dropouts to college graduates to elected officials, Americans are “alarmingly uninformed” about the USA’s history, founding principles and economy β knowledge needed to participate wisely in civic life, says a report scheduled to be released Thursday.
The study, the third in a series by the non-profit Intercollegiate Studies Institute, finds that half of U.S. adults can name all three branches of government, and 54% know that the power to declare war belongs to Congress. Almost 40% incorrectly said that it belongs to the president.
And while 56% can name Paula Abdul as a judge on American Idol, only 21% know that the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Just 54% can correctly identify a basic description of the free enterprise system.
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December 4, 2008 at 7:23 am
Lowell
I’m was correct on all five of the questions but I’ll have to wait until this evening to take the full test.
December 4, 2008 at 10:26 pm
thevalleyprogressive
Sorry Lowell about that link, I’ve fixed it. Try again.
Full bragging disclosure: I missed one. π