THE NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION

Selected national findings 2025–2026

CAN AMERICANS NAME THE FIVE FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS ?

91% could not name all five First Amendment freedoms without prompting
18% Could not name a single First Amendment freedom.

DO AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THEIR FREEDOMS?

90% said the First Amendment is vital.
28% of Americans do not clearly understand how the First Amendment applies to their lives.

ARE AMERICANS CIVICALLY ENGAGED?

62% of American adults demonstrate low levels of civic or political engagement.
36% of eligible Americans did not vote in the 2024 presidential election.

 

SOURCES

Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2025 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey 
(Sept. 11, 2025). annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org

Freedom Forum, The First Amendment: Where America Stands (Sept. 25, 2025). freedomforum.org

Pew Research Center, How Americans Are Engaged With News, Politics, Religion and Civic Life (July 16, 2026). pewresearch.org

U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November 2024 Voting and Registration Supplement.