iCitizenForum

Civics knowledge escapes fifth-graders and many adults

The TV show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy enjoys some popularity. It captures the TV template for success: quizzes/trivia, give away money and make presumably intelligent people look stupid.

When it comes to knowledge about how American government works, most do not have to be made to look stupid. Many are.

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) states on its Web site that it was founded in 1953 “to further in successive generations of American college youth a better understanding of the economic, political, and ethical values that sustain a free and humane society.”

The institute pursues an admirable mission. But based on the results of its studies of students and “civic literacy,” much work remains for it — even after more than 50 years.

So as a year-end way to get started on developing some civic literacy, I have put together a simple quiz drawn solely from the U.S. Constitution and its amendments. You can check answers easily online or, better yet, by reading the Constitution.

I can “grade” your quiz, but to get a score from me, you have to register on the iCitizenforum Web site and post a “comment” to this blog.

Meanwhile, in the “Resources” section below, you can find more about the work of the ISI and its most recent study on civic literacy. You also will find links to other online civics quizzes, including the ISI quiz.

And you can enjoy a few minutes of holiday cheer by watching a classic scene from “The Andy Griffith Show” in which Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife turns out to be not as civically engaged as he was as a grade-schooler.

Good luck!

U.S. Constitution Quiz:
1. The preamble to the Constitution contains how many words?
A. 106
B. 232
C. 52
D. 465

2. The Constitution contains how many amendments?
A. 23
B. 10
C. 18
D. 27

3. The Constitution required how many states to ratify it?
A. 13
B. 10
C. 12
D. 9

4. Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?
A. Thomas Jefferson
B. Benjamin Franklin
C. James Madison Jr.
D. None of the above

5. Article I of the Constitution addresses which branch of government?
A. Executive Branch
B. Judicial Branch
C. Legislative Branch
D. Olive Branch

6. On Sept. 17, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention unanimously moved to send the Constitution to the states for ratification, how many states voted “aye.”
A. 13
B. 12
C. 11
D. 10

7. The Constitution states that all “bills of revenue” must originate in which legislative body?
A. House of Representatives
B. Senate

8. How many senators does each state send to Congress?
A. 2
B. 1
C. 3.
D. Depends on the state’s population

9. Which constitutional amendment abolished slavery?
A. No. 14
B. No. 13
C. No. 18
D. No. 12

10. Which constitution amendment took 213 years for the states to pass after its initial introduction?
A. No. 15-The right to vote for all citizens, regardless of race, color or previous servitude
B. No. 19-The right to vote for women
C. No. 12-Creation of the Electoral College
D. No. 27-Changes in compensation for Congress

Resources:

• http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/2008/...
• http://americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx
• http://www.internet4classrooms.com/5thSocSt.htm
• http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/...
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuPQgV8yBM

2 Comments