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CIVICS TEST STUMPS MANY

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

cwade@tampatrib.com

Published: November 25, 2008

Can you name all three branches of the U.S. government? Do you know who Susan B. Anthony was? Do you know what rights the First Amendment guarantees? Most Americans don't.

That's according to a report from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, a nonprofit organization that surveyed about 2,500 randomly selected citizens, asking them 33 basic questions about history, government and economics.

70 percent

Failed to correctly answer questions that high school graduates and new citizens are expected to know

30 percent

Of elected officials did not know that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are the inalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence
20 percent

Of elected officials falsely believed that the Electoral College "was established to supervise the first presidential debates"

40 percent

Of all respondents falsely believed the president has the power to declare war

54 percent

Of respondents with a bachelor's degree correctly defined free enterprise as a system in which individuals create, exchange and control goods and resources

20 percent

Of respondents falsely believe that the Federal Reserve can increase or decrease government spending.

TAKE THE TEST

Want to test yourself? Go to www. americancivicliteracy.org.

TAKE THE TEST

Want to test yourself? Go to www.americancivicliteracy.org.

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