EDITORIAL: Civics should be required learning
MetroCreative
It’s low-hanging comedic fruit, ripe for the picking by late-night television talk show hosts. Folks out shopping or strolling a city street are stopped at random and quizzed on their knowledge of civics, democracy and American history.
An excerpt from an actual interview:
Question: “What country did we fight in the Revolutionary War?”
Answer: (Long pause) “France!”
Question: “What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?”
Answer: (After mispronouncing “Emancipation Proclamation”): “I don’t know.”
Question: “You’ve heard of it?”
Answer: “I have heard of it.”
Question: “It freed the slaves.”
Answer: “Yes, yes!”
Question: “If the president and the vice president died, who would then become president?”
Answer: “The secretary of state.”
Question: “No.”
Answer: “Yeah!”
Question: “No!”
While the befuddled quiz subjects’ answers serve to amuse, their lack of basic knowledge of American history and government is rather disturbing.
Downright sad, even.
According to a 2024 study conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, our citizenry’s grasp of basic civics is woefully lacking. Of 2,000 registered voters queried by the organization on topics that included the three branches of government and basic functions of democracy, an astounding 70% failed.
Similar disappointing results were reported as part of the American Bar Association’s 2025 Survey of Civic Literacy. Surveyors asked 1,000 U.S. citizens 13 multiple-choice questions based on the U.S. Naturalization Test. Forty-five percent recognized that “We the People” were the opening words of the Constitution while only 39% knew that the document, along with authorized federal statutes and treaties, is the supreme law of the land. More than half (55%) were aware that John Roberts is chief justice of the Supreme Court, and an encouraging 81% knew that the high court is the ultimate authority in interpreting the Constitution. But just 45% knew that the judicial branch is responsible for reviewing the laws.
The outcome of those surveys appears to bear out – anecdotally, at least – on the local level.
In an op-ed piece prior to the annual May 1 Law Day celebration, Washington County Bar Association President Deana Stephens shared results of the organization’s Civics Quiz that members take to local venues and events to gauge public knowledge of civics. Questions are pulled from the U.S. Naturalization Test.
“Many participating in our Civics Quiz have needed hints to arrive at the correct answer,” Stephens wrote. “Too many. A distressing number of adults could not name the three branches of government, or even one freedom guaranteed in the First Amendment – Hint: there are several, and the right to bear arms is not one of them (that’s the Second Amendment).”
On a more positive note, Stephens noted that middle and high schoolers who were actively studying the Constitution in their social studies classes did well.
While Pennsylvania’s schools are required to administer assessments of students’ knowledge of American history, government and civics, the law stops short of mandating a passing grade in order to receive a high school diploma.
We require immigrants who want to become American citizens to pass a test. Our nation’s school children should be required to do the same. Passage of a civics course should be a requisite for high school graduation.
We should be preparing our students by ensuring they have a deep understanding of American democracy and government. These future leaders must be armed with the basic knowledge that will enable them to make the decisions necessary to advance our communities, our states and our nation. We should not take that responsibility lightly.
The bar association president said it well: “At this time in our country, when civil discourse is lacking and disagreements often disintegrate into uninformed social media shouting matches, it is important for every American to understand the foundations of our democracy.”
And that’s no laughing matter.