We are still in the celebration of “Constitution Week“. What have your students learned and what do you know about the Constitution which governs us? The National Constitution Center released a survey of 600 students which shows that constitutional knowledge among the young is quite deficient. However, the students are learning something and that something seems to be pop culture. Some of the questions covered these subjects:

1. Name the city where the Constitution was written? (25.5% of students correctly answered Philadelphia.)

1a. What city has the zip code 90210? (75.2% of students knew the answer to that question.)

2. How many senators serve in the U.S. Senate? ( Only 21.2% of respondents answered correctly that it was 100.)

2a. How many members are there in the music group “Hanson?” (81.2% knew the correct number.)

3. What are the first three words of the Constitution? (Just about one third, 35.5% of the respondents could answer “We the people“.

3a. 71.2% of students know that “www” is the first three letters of most Web site addresses.

4. Who is considered the father of the U.S. Constitution? (Only 1.8% of respondents know that it is James Madison, a 36-year-old Virginian.)

4a. Who is considered the father of Microsoft? (58.3% of students answered that it was Bill Gates .

5. What does the Fifth Amendment protect? ( 25% of the respondents knew that it protects against double jeopardy, self incrimination, right to a grand jury, due process, and/or compensation for private property taken for public use.)

5a. What does “The Club” protect? (63.7% knew that it protects against car theft.)

6. Name the three branches of government? (41.2% of respondents answered correctly.)

6a. Give the names of the Three Stooges. (59.2% knew their names.)

Tracked at basil’s blog Covered Dish Picnic.