Only 36 percent of Americans can name the three branches of government - The Washington Post - Galt's Gulch

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Only 36 percent of Americans can name the three branches of government - The Washington Post

Posted by straightlinelogic 10 years, 6 months ago to Government

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A majority, however, know the agency that issues their checks.

SOURCE URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/18/only-36-percent-of-americans-can-name-the-three-branches-of-government/

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Posted by zzdragon 10 years, 6 months ago

Is anyone surprised here? Just ask your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter just what is being thought in school about history. Watch Wathers on Bill O’Reilly do the man on the street. People laugh thinking it’s funny that the person being asked a question doesn’t know the most basic information. I think it’s pathetic.

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  Posted by slfisher 10 years, 6 months ago
  
  My daughter only gets one semester of history, and one semester of science, per year. Really upsetting.
  
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    Posted by zzdragon 10 years, 6 months ago
    
    And just what is covered? Not GW or the other founding fathers.
    
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      Posted by slfisher 10 years, 6 months ago
      
      Actually, I was pretty pleased that when she had American history, they talked about the founding *mothers* as well.
      
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    Posted by edweaver 10 years, 6 months ago
    
    That may be a good thing since the truth is not taught in either subject in our government run public schools. :)
    
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Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 6 months ago

Well, in fairness, since he gas a pen and a phone, it seems there's really only one branch now. The Executive Order Branch.

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Posted by Snoogoo 10 years, 6 months ago

That makes me feel like the commercial with the single-tear crying Indian looking at the pile of garbage.

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Posted by ddardick24 10 years, 6 months ago

Disappointing, yet not entirely shocking...

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Posted by gerstj 10 years, 6 months ago

This is the end product of leftist takeover of the public education system , the erasure of the history and foundations of the USA, and results in an electorate that reelects a President who hates America.

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Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 6 months ago

And very few can name their own Representative, Senator, or State Legislator.

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  Posted by slfisher 10 years, 6 months ago
  
  I'm on a first-name basis with mine (well, not the Senators) but Idaho is a very small state and that's not unusual.
  
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    Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 6 months ago
    
    Well, Idaho's a little different. I spent a couple of years up around Challis on the Salmon River.
    
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      Posted by slfisher 10 years, 6 months ago
      
      I haven't been to Challis but I've been to Salmon. I haven't seen as much on the east side. Someday.
      
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        Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 6 months ago
        
        The Sawtooths and the Salmon River are magical places and most of the Idahoans I've met are a rugged and common sense people. I admire them and the State.
        
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        Posted by slfisher 10 years, 6 months ago
        
        yes, the Sawtooths are the most beautiful place ever. I love camping there.
        
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Posted by CircuitGuy 10 years, 6 months ago

The most surprising thing to me is that more people knew which political party controlled the Senate and House than knew the three branches of gov't or how much of a majority is required to override a veto.

This is shocking b/c the basics of gov't function only need to be learned once. Which party controls Congress can change every two years. People are more likely to know which team is ahead than what it's all about.

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