Annenberg Public Policy Center survey provides new evidence of widespread political ignorance

The Volokh Conspiracy ^ | September 18, 2014 | Ilya Somin

[right-wing agnostic]

A recently released Annenberg Public Policy Center survey provides new evidence of widespread political ignorance. Fellow Washington Post-affiliated blogger Reid Wilson lists some of the more striking results:

Wednesday marked national Constitution Day, the 227th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. But only 36 percent of Americans can actually name the three branches of government the Constitution created.

That’s according to a new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center, and it shows a huge percentage of Americans might need to take a civics refresher course.

Only 38 percent of Americans knew the Republican Party controls the U.S. House of Representatives, while 17 percent think Democrats are still in charge. The number of people who knew Republicans were in charge has dropped 17 percent since the last time Annenberg asked, back in 2011, right after Republicans reclaimed control.

An identical number, 38 percent, knows Democrats run the Senate, while 20 percent believe Republicans control the upper chamber. Only 27 percent knew it takes a two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to override a presidential veto.

Ignorance about party control of Congress is particularly troubling, because voters unaware of these facts do not know which party to reward or blame for the legislature’s performance. It’s hard to hold political leaders accountable for their performance if you don’t even know who’s in charge.

[right-wing agnostic]

If it was up to me, people would have to take U.S. history and civics exams before they were allowed to vote. These exams would be high-school level exams since the minimum voting age is eighteen. With results like these, is it really any wonder why we twice elected a Communist Party USA-endorsed candidate President of the United States in 2008 AND 2012? I have been aware that we live in a constitutionally, historically, and politically retarded society for a long time; but these results are still depressing. I am absolutely petrified of our country's future./rwa

[a fool in paradise]

LBJ created an ad in 1964 claiming that the head of the KKK endorsed Goldwater. The image was just of a Klan rally.

The GOP refused to air such an ad exposing the CPUSA endorsement of Barack Obama.

LBJ’s library has the clip on youtube.

[goodnesswins]

Not just ignorant, but if my neighborhood (middle to upper class) is any indication....the Republican’s have lost their will....and/or don’t care....

[rktman]

Annenberg. ayers/oblabla connection?

[Regulator]

The fact that even ONE Democrat is elected in this country proves that people are mindless.