Study: Few Americans Know First Amendment

[villager]

Study: Few Americans Know 1st Amendment

By ANNA JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment.
Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey.

The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms. Joe Madeira, director of exhibitions at the museum, said he was surprised by the results.

"Part of the survey really shows there are misconceptions, and part of our mission is to clear up these misconceptions," said Madeira, whose museum will be dedicated to helping visitors understand the First Amendment when it opens in April. "It means we have our job cut out for us."

The survey found more people could name the three "American Idol" judges than identify three First Amendment rights. They were also more likely to remember popular advertising slogans.

<snip>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060301/ap_on_re_us/freedom_poll

[phusion]

1. sad.

K&R

[superconnected]

2. I can name 4 pos 5

free speech, right to bare arms, right to a speedy trial, freedom of assembly

And I think the 5th is freedom of religon.

[SledDriver]

4. Nope.

Freedoms of religion, press, speech, assembly, and petition.

[superconnected]

5. Found them:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.



the link
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

[Brooklyn Michael]

8. Yeah, well.....who needs the 4th amendment anyway?

Let's just...tear this little section...out of the Constitution...(R-R-R-R-I-I-I-I-I-P-P-P-P).....There! No more FISA! The Gov't can now spy on anyone, at any time, for any reason, and as long as an administration-installed judge tells us the overall act of domestic spying is needed for the War on Terra, we don't really need that pesky ol' amendment anyway, do we?

Now most Americans can only name one out of FOUR.

[superconnected]

10. I didn't even put together that the 4th covers spying.

Good one.

[Brooklyn Michael]

52. Thanks! Now, if you REALLY wanna scare yourself....

I suggest you make yourself a cup of hot tea, have a valium on hand, and then go do some reading over at http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/

Go back a few weeks for when the FISA / Domestic Spying story first broke. Glenn Greenwald has become one of the authorities on this, and he's been doing some damn impressive blogging on the whole subject. Unfortunately, his writing style is a little academic for my tastes (why I recommended tea), but the things you'll learn are downright frightening (why I recommend the valium).

[PassingFair]

13. The 4th amendment has been trashed for a LONG time.

I consider drug tests to be in DIRECT violation of our 4th amendment rights.

It infuriates me that no probable cause is needed, and that enforcement
agencies AND BUSINESSES can demand blood and/or urine samples on punishment
of jail or loss of your job.

If THAT ain't "illegal search and seizure", I don't know what is!

[Critters2]

23. Businesses aren't bound by the Constitution

Another common misconception. The Constitution only regulates what government can do. thus, drug tests might be unconstitutional if you work for a government agency. But private businesses can do what they want where this is concerned.

[Mithras61]

26. That's a slick work-around...

"You aren't being tested by the government, you're being tested by the company that wants the government contract that requires all employees of companies bidding for government contracts are tested for illegal drugs."

In either case, refusal to comply leads to economic (no job) or social (jail time) sanctions.

[Critters2]

47. That's the fault of the marketplace

and those who used drugs on the job, not the government, and certainly not the Constitution. The Constitution only regulates the functions of government. Read it once.

[Mithras61]

56. So it's okay with you...

if the gov't passes regulations that require employers to invade your privacy in the name of fighting a "war on drugs" regardless of if they have any reason to believe you have used drugs? It seems to me like a sneak around the Fourth Amendment to say it isn't the gov't requiring the urinalysis, it's the employer, when in fact the employer wouldn't require the test if the gov't didn't require it of them.

I never said it was the fault of the constitution (and I have read it... many times in fact... perhaps you ought to read the posts you're responding to). I said it was a sneak around for the courts to rule this isn't a violation of the Fourth Amendment barring unreasonable search & seizure. Requiring a pee test before I'm allowed to work for a company because the company wants a government contract is still the government requiring the test for no reason other than I want a job. They have NO evidence of my using illegal drugs (because there is none - I don't use them), so they cannot be conducting the search on reasonable grounds.

[SledDriver]

11. Right, those are the first five amendments...

But the article is talking about the five freedoms guaranteed by the 1St Amendment:

(1) Religion
(2) Speech
(3) Press
(4) Assembly
(5) Petition

edited because I didn't spell goodly

[Oreegone]

21. What about Bushies government paid propaganda programs?

What about Bushies government paid propaganda programs? Isn't this an infringment on our press? Paying people to say things that are lies to benefit your man-date.

[ret5hd]

6. sorry, bare arms is not in the 1st amendment

[superconnected]

9. did someone say it was?

I guessed them and didn't bother guessing order. My right to bare arms was 2nd so I don't understand your post at all.

[ret5hd]

17. OP:Only one in four Americans can name...

more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) (my emphasis)

YOU: I can name 4 pos 5
free speech, right to bare arms, right to a speedy trial, freedom of assembly
And I think the 5th is freedom of religon.

ME: sorry, bare arms is not in the 1st amendment

YOU: did someone say it was?

yeah, i think YOU did. don't worry tho, i'm just ribbing you.

[theHandpuppet]

33. Um... I think you meant "bear arms", not bare arms

Different meaning entirely. They were poking a bit of fun at the misspelling.

[noonwitch]

16. I saw this on the "Today" show. I could name four

Speech, religion, press, assembly. I didn't know the petition right, but I still did better than most of the people they surveyed.

[Critters2]

24. Freedom of religion

is in the 1st Amendment.

[Bluzmann57]

3. The dumbing down of America continues

The repubs want us all stupid so we don't know any better than to vote for them when they try to scare us. Of course, the mass media focuses in on stories like the missing white woman, the guy who fell overboard on a cruise ship, and the runaway bride. That is what people talk about and they can say, "we watched the news last night and..." That makes some people feel that they are keeping up with current affairs; by watching the news. And the Simpsons too I guess.
edited for spelling. I am at least moderately educated.

[villager]

7. The Simpsons need to do a first amendment episode!

n/t

[DBoon]

12. Isn't this "constitution" classified now?

If everyone knew their rights, then terrorists could find loopholes to avoid being caught.

We are at war, damnnit, with an unknown enemy hiding among us. Can't defend our freedoms if they know government secrets.

[PassingFair]

14. Let me try this:

Bart
Lisa
Homer
Marge and
Maggie.....

Right?

[apnu]

15. And people look at me funny when I say our culture is in decline

TV is, IMO, the most corrosive thing to out culture. Its no wonder the religious wackjobs and the reTHUGlians live on the air waves. They want to destroy America and they have he perfect vehicle to do it. A stupid and ignorant population is an easily controlled and directed population.

[KAZ]

18. Uh, duh! Everyone knows the first one.

Thou shalt not put any gods before the Lord God thy dollar.

[Mithras61]

19. Looks like our "best in the world" educational system...

has let us down (again). DAMN you TEA for making our kids stupid! It's all your fault! :sarcasm:


This has been going on for years now. I KNOW I didn't learn as much as my parents, and my friends kids who went in the 80s didn't learn as much as I did. I'm watching what my son learns in school now, and it's pretty good, but he's in 6th grade in an AP class. As far as I know, everyone has been paying lip service to improving education, but it hasn't been happening.

I don't know who's at fault, but I would put money on the lack of qualified teachers being part of the problem. The district I'm in now can't afford more teachers because of the administrators they need to keep up with all the state & federal paperwork for reporting requirements, and the state keeps cutting back on funding & benefits. Besides, who wants to spend 4 or more years in college to get a degree and go to work making less than you can in almost any other degreed profession? The only people I know who want to teach are those whose love of teaching makes it doable despite the lack of decent pay & benefits. Many of them end up bailing out because they can't stand it for more than a few years. Almost half of the teachers my son had won't be there next year when my daughter starts Kindergarten. Some are affected by the state's "forced" retirement (if you don't rtetire, your retirement pay will be cut by however much you or your spouse make and by whatever you receive from other retirement funds). I have a close friend who is going to move out of state because she was forced to leave to preserve the little bit of benefit she was due, but now can't support herself on her retirement. If she goes to work for any state agency (like as a librarian or substitute teacher - the things she's qualified to be), her retirement is cut by the ammount she makes in the other job.

I think the biggest problem is that we treat our teachers like garbage and then are surprised when our kids don't know what they need to know to preserve our country and to earn a decent living.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

20. As usual, I'd like to see the actual survey. When I heard this on ...

the news this morning the first thing I thought of was Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms," not the 1st Amendment. I've never thought of the 1st Amendment as a distinct bullet pointed list of "Five Freedoms" but if asked what was in that amendment, I think I could have given a fairly accurate summary.

And come on, how do they get someone to say there's a constitutional right to own a pet?

[mariema]

36. here is the link

http://www.mccormicktribune.org/mccormickmuseum/pdf/Survey_Results_Report.pdf

[Art_from_Ark]

72. I agree

It sounds either like a trick question, or the author was confusing this with FDR's "Four Freedoms". Freedom of speech, and freedom of religion, but also "freedom from want and fear"



The 1st Amendment is part of the Bill of *Rights*, and nowhere in it is the word "freedom" mentioned. Thus, it could throw some people off by referring to the rights described in the 1st Amendment as "the 5 freedoms".

And even a US stamp issued about 20 years ago refers to the *right* to peaceably assemble:

[Dolomite]

22. Even fewer think the 2nd is a civil right - much less individual

and that goes for most on this site.

[Critters2]

25. The second?

You mean the right to a well-organized militia?

[Dolomite]

30. Exactly - the founding fathers were so afraid of the army being disarmed

that they wrote the second amendment to prevent that from ever happening. :eyes:

(good god – where’s the kong sized rolling eyes smiley when you need it?)

“The right of the militia to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Oh yes, that’s what it says alright.

[Critters2]

46. It's the "well-oragnized" part that gets ignored

I can't imagine that the Founders used the term "well-organized" to mean "every moran who can walk into a Wal-Mart and buy a gun." But maybe they did. Who's to say?

[Dolomite]

53. Why are the People mentioned in the First, Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth

different than the People mentioned in the Second?

Honestly, the men that wrote the Bill of Rights were masters of the English language – further the letters shared between Adams and Jefferson in their waning years are considered the most profoundly elegant examples of correspondence in english in history.

I’m sure I don’t have to quote the Second Amendment for anyone here, but if the founding fathers meant for the Second Amendment to read: “The right of the militia to keep and bear arms shall be infringed,” they would have simply wrote it that way.

The right is essential for maintaining a militia, yes, however, the right is not assigned by the amendment to depend on the existence of a militia, well regulated or otherwise.

Look at what Jefferson wrote for the VA Constitution: "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

Or what Samuel Adams did for the MA Constitution: "The said Constitution shall be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms."

Hope this clears a few things up.

[Critters2]

71. So, what does the term "well-organized" mean?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

34. Your point is? -nt

[Dolomite]

37. I think my point was:

"Even fewer think the 2nd is a civil right - much less individual - and that goes for most on this site", coupled with the sarcastic remark punctuating said prevalent belief with what I believe to be how many actually see the 2A.

i.e.:

“The right of the militia to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

[Justitia]

27. How many fewer know the Bill of Rights? A link to the Nat'l Archives....

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

Answer: The Bill of Rights = the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution

Easy peek at the link above, for anyone that needs a refresher :)

[villager]

29. or the Declaration of Independence?

n/t

[Solon]

38. While, for a matter of record, it is good to know the Declaration...

of Independence, it is not a legally binding document when it comes to US law, nor should it be used as an argument for any legal discussion beyond appealing to authority of the Founding Fathers.

[villager]

43. ah, but the appeal to the *spiritual* arguments...

n/t

[sendero]

28. The Constitution...

... Use it or Lose it. Also, if Americans had a passing familiarity with the 4th amendment, and why it exists, the outrage over the NSA wiretapping bs would be universal. Even the 4th estate acts like they don't get it.

Face it, this country is dumbing down in a big way, and that is the root of America's problems.

[tledford]

41. The Fourth Estate abdicated...

... and stepped down, then went into exile. It is gone.

[happyslug]

31. So what else is new?

Unless you are constantly bombarded by something, you tend to forget it. Most people see the Simpson's at least once a week, how often do they read or run across the First amendment? Once a year?

This is true of ALL things and why Television is the Great Enemy of Knowledge. TV gives people entertainment and thus people hears it everyday. The First amendment is rarely read by most people.

[theHandpuppet]

32. And I'll bet you most RW religious zealots in this country...

.. couldn't name even five of the ten commandments.

[wordpix]

35. as a high school teacher, I can tell you, many teens know nothing about

Bill of Rights by the time they get to high school. But of course, teachers must "teach to the test" which doesn't include Bill of Rights, apparently.

[Nutmegger]

39. I read this before

I felt like pulling my hair out I was so :mad:.

What the is wrong with people?

This is why Bush Inc is getting away what all this crap.

[genie_weenie]

40. How many know the 10th?

And the fact that the Federal Government has basically stricken it from the Record...

[flowomo]

42. wrote my column about this survey.....

here it is, if you want to take a look:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=548448&mesg_id=548448

[villager]

44. thanks!

n/t

[Endangered Specie]

45. Well shit, I can't name ONE American Idol judge....

(would rather be sent to BUSHenwald than watch that hideous show)
and people wonder why Im not always proud to be an American.

(I always screw up on the 5th one, petition)

[WhiteTara]

48. Most people would give up voting if the

choice was between shopping and voting! I read this survey about 15 years ago and I was astounded. I wish more repukes had gone shopping and not voted last election (even though that might not have meant anything either, since both presidential elections were stolen)

[villager]

57. yes! Let's tell Repukes that the choice is between voting...

...and driving their SUVs!

[lonestarnot]

49. Unfuckingbelievable! We don't deserve America!

We should be embarrassed and ashamed!

[depakid]

50. Fewer still could care

which is why they've lost so much of it.

[D-Notice]

51. Hell! Even a Limey such as me could get 4!

I named: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion & freedom of press.

[slaveplanet]

54. GRASP

That's the way I first learned the first.

G= the petition for redress of Grievance
R= Religion
A= Assembly
S= Speech
P= Press

[KansDem]

55. Unfortunately, not enough Americans can GRASP the significance of the 1st!

And thanks for giving my children an easy way to remember these! :hi:

[tom_paine]

58. Imperial Amerika is a nation of slaves in search of chains

Pateince, the Busheviks are wrapping them around our necks as quickly as they can while still keepingthe suckers believing they are free.

[villager]

59. and for those of us seeking an underground railroad?

n/y

[tom_paine]

60. For us, the Halliburton Homeland Detention & Concentration Camps

At it always has been, so it shall be again, I think (no industial death camps, just slave labor, I think).

[villager]

61. then let's find Harriet Tubman and get busy...

n/t

[bpilgrim]

62. the Simpson's are on teeVee, DAILY

our corporate media values cater to the almighty $$$ no matter what.

profit OVER people


more...
http://GLobalFreePress.com

peace

[JCMach1]

63. Americans’ answer to what are your rights? ’D’oh’

Most Americans have an easier time naming members of the cartoon Simpson family than listing the five freedoms granted by the nation’s founders, a survey by a museum released on Wednesday said.

Here’s a hint: one of them is not the right to own and raise pets, an error committed by one in five respondents.

Half of 1,000 Americans randomly surveyed by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum could name at least two of the five members of Fox Television’s Simpson family, the stars of the network’s long-running show.

But just 28 percent of respondents could name more than one of the five freedoms listed in the US Constitution’s First Amendment -- about the same proportion that could name all five Simpson family members or could recall the three judges on Fox TV’s top-rated “American Idol.”

Just 8 percent could recall three First Amendment freedoms... http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2006/March/theworld_March18.xml§ion=theworld

THIS IS ONE OF THE SCARIER POLLS I HAVE SEEN IN AWHILE...!

[unblock]

64. "the five freedoms granted by the nation's founders"????

i don't know where to begin with that one. it's ironic, or perhaps pathetically telling, that an article that bashes americans for not understanding their constitutional rights displays such a profound misunderstanding of our constitutional rights.

as a minor point, "the five freedoms" are merely a listing of what's mentioned in the first amendment, not the entire constitution.

but more fundamentally, the founders didn't grant the people any rights at all. rather, they acknowledged that the people already had these rights, and barred CONGRESS from infringing on them.

the only rights that are granted in the constitution are the rights granted BY the people TO the government to certain limited powers.

[flowomo]

65. I wrote my newspaper column about this... have a look....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=548448&mesg_id=548448

[entanglement]

67. The right to own and raise pets???

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Initech]

66. Shit, no wonder we dont have any rights...

Idiots dont even know what our rights are! This is an absolutely frightening statistic! :scared:

*clicks off DU*

[slackmaster]

68. What about the Right to Not Be Offended, Right to Feel Safe, etc.?

They're in the Constitution, aren't they?

:dunce:

[fshrink]

69. Obviously...

[drm604]

70. So what exactly is guaranteed by the right to petition?

What exactly is guaranteed by the right to petition for redress of grievances? Does that simply mean that we have a right to present some paper with signatures to a government representative without having to fear arrest or punishment for doing so? Are they actually required to respond in some manner or can they simply toss it in the circular file? Are there any legal precedents spelling out what is required of them in response? Does anyone here know?

[serryjw]

73. I asked this question weeks ago

WHY can't we take up a petition to impeach *??? I don't have any answer. Any DU constitutional lawyers here? How has this administration represented me? IF the polls are correct more than half the country want * removed!