A third of Americans cannot name the three branches of government, and under half know four of the five rights protected by the First Amendment. That is the finding of the 2026 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania.
The survey tested basic civic knowledge across a sample of U.S. adults. The results are not reassuring. They suggest a population that knows less about its own system than it should.
What the survey measured
The survey asked respondents to name the three branches of government. Over a third of adults — 35% — could not name all three. Under half could name four of the five rights protected by the First Amendment. Only freedom of speech was identified by more than half of respondents.
These are not abstract numbers. They describe a country where a significant share of the adult population cannot identify the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. They also describe a country where fewer than half of adults can name four of the five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment.
The survey is a snapshot of civic literacy in the United States. It does not measure why people lack this knowledge, only that they do. It does not measure whether this knowledge has changed over time, only where it stands now.
The three branches of government
The survey tested whether respondents could name the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government.
Yet over a third of adults could not name all three. That means a substantial portion of the population cannot identify the institutions that make, enforce, and interpret the laws that govern them.
The survey does not say why people failed to name the branches. It does not ask whether they guessed wrong or simply did not know. It only records that they could not produce all three names.
The First Amendment rights
The survey also tested knowledge of the First Amendment. Respondents were asked to name five freedoms protected by the amendment.
Only one of those five was named by a majority of respondents. Freedom of speech was identified by more than half of survey participants. The other four freedoms were named by fewer than half of respondents.
Under half of adults could name four of the five rights. That means a majority of adults cannot name even four of the five freedoms that protect their ability to speak, worship, publish, gather, and petition.
The survey does not measure whether respondents can explain what each freedom means. It only tests whether they can name the freedoms themselves.
The limits of the findings
The survey has limitations. It does not provide context for the answers. It does not ask respondents why they answered the way they did. It does not measure whether respondents understand the meaning of the branches or the rights.
The survey also does not measure whether respondents can apply the knowledge. It does not ask them to explain how the branches interact or how the rights operate in practice.
The survey is a snapshot of civic literacy in the United States. It is not a comprehensive measure of political engagement or constitutional understanding.
Why this matters
Civic knowledge is not just an academic exercise. It is a practical skill. Knowing how government works helps citizens participate in democracy.
The survey findings suggest a population that cannot name the branches of government may struggle to hold elected officials accountable. A population that cannot name the First Amendment rights may not recognize when those rights are threatened.
The survey does not measure political behavior. It does not measure whether respondents vote or engage with politics. It only measures whether they can recall basic facts.
The survey findings are sobering. They suggest that a significant share of the adult population lacks basic knowledge of the system they live under.
What the survey shows
The survey shows that civic knowledge is uneven. Some facts stick. Others do not.
Freedom of speech was the only First Amendment right named by a majority of respondents. That suggests the right is the most widely recognized of the five freedoms.
The survey does not explain why speech was named by a majority and the other four were not. It only records the result.
The survey also shows that the gap is wide. Over a third of adults could not name the three branches of government. Under half could name four of the five First Amendment rights.
The state of civic education
The survey findings raise questions about civic education. The Constitution is taught in schools, but the survey suggests that knowledge does not always stick.
The survey does not measure whether respondents received civic education. It only measures what respondents can recall now.
What comes next
The survey findings are a call to action. They suggest that civic education is needed, and that the need is urgent.
The survey does not offer solutions. It only reports the problem.
The survey is a mirror. It reflects back what Americans know about their own system. The reflection is not flattering, but it is accurate.
The survey is a starting point. It tells us where the gaps are. It does not tell us how to fill them. That is the work for the rest of us.
The survey is a reminder that democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires participation. And participation requires knowledge.
The survey is a call to arms. It calls on every citizen to learn more. It calls on every educator to teach better. It calls on every policymaker to support civic education.
The survey is a wake-up call. It wakes us up to the fact that we do not know as much as we should about the system we live under.
The survey is a challenge. It challenges citizens to learn more. It challenges educators to teach better. It challenges policymakers to support civic education.
The survey is a reminder. It reminds us that the Constitution is not a museum piece. It is the operating manual for the country, and the people who run it should know how it works.
The survey is a warning. It tells us that civic knowledge is not where it should be. It tells us that the system rests on foundations that many people cannot name.
The ranking of knowledge
- Freedom of speech — the only First Amendment right named by a majority of respondents.
- The other four First Amendment freedoms — each named by fewer than half of respondents.
- The three branches of government — over a third of adults could not name all three.
- Four of the five First Amendment rights — under half of adults could name them.
This ranking reflects the survey’s findings on what respondents could recall. It does not explain why some facts stuck and others did not.
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