Do YOU know the 5 freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment?

[Deb in IA]

Or do you know the 5 members of The Simpsons?


D’oh! More know Simpsons than Constitution
Study: America more familiar with cartoon family than First Amendment
Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms in the First Amendment, but more than half can name at least two family members of "The Simpsons" (from left, Lisa, Marge, Maggie, Homer and Bart).

Updated: 1:22 a.m. ET March 1, 2006
CHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about “The Simpsons” than they do about the First Amendment.

Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.

But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey.

The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

Joe Madeira, director of exhibitions at the museum, said he was surprised by the results.

“Part of the survey really shows there are misconceptions, and part of our mission is to clear up these misconceptions,” said Madeira, whose museum will be dedicated to helping visitors understand the First Amendment when it opens in April. “It means we have our job cut out for us.”

The survey found more people could name the three “American Idol” judges than identify three First Amendment rights. They were also more likely to remember popular advertising slogans.

It also showed that people misidentified First Amendment rights. About one in five people thought the right to own a pet was protected, and 38 percent said they believed the right against self-incrimination contained in the Fifth Amendment was a First Amendment right, the survey found.

The telephone survey of 1,000 adults was conducted Jan. 20-22 by the research firm Synovate and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.







Oh, by the way, those 5 guaranteed freedoms are:
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The five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment are freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.

 

[NMAmy]

I saw that in the paper today and was amazed. I got four of them right (the Freedoms, not the Simpsons) I missed petitioning for the redress of grievances. But then I type a lot of Political Science stuff.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I saw that in the paper today and was amazed. I got four of them right (the Freedoms, not the Simpsons) I missed petitioning for the redress of grievances. But then I type a lot of Political Science stuff.

Is it bad that I got 4/5 of the rights (missed the same one you did)...but I got 5/5 right on the Simpsons.

 

[marybet]

I knew the first 4 too. It always amazes me when I watch Jay Leno do his jaywalking at how ignorant people are. Maybe that is why people aren't so concerned about losing their freedoms, they don't even know what they are.

 

[olena]

I knew them all....rights and Simspons. Chris took Constitutuional Law last year and we had some great discussions.

 

[EthansMom]

Okay, I'm pathetic. I got the right to free speech.

And then I got: Marge, Homer, Lisa, Bart, Maggie, Grampa, Snowball and Santa's Little Helper....

 

[Poohgirl]

d'uuhhoooo!!!!

 

[Beth76]

I got speech and religion. I was lumping speech and press together though. Forgot assembly and don't recall ever hearing the phrase "petition for redress of grievances". Yes, I do know all the Simpson's and a several other main characters.

 

[nsyncraider17]

My poli sci professor was talking about this in class today (the class is Civil Liberties in the Courts, so the entire focus is Constitutional rights). He was amused because he would consider the five freedoms they listed wrong. He said two of them should have been combined (I would guess assembly and petition?) and another should have been split in two (I'm assuming religion). So while I'm sure there are a lot of Americans ignorant about their rights, I don't know how accurate this survey was, either.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I admit to knowing all of the Simpsons and the Idol judges, but come on, they are on TV all the time and part of our pop culture. Maybe if we had more exposure to the Bill of Rights, like that Saturday morning cartoon deal we had years ago, Schoolhouse Rock, we would be on top of things like this. Guess it's time to edumacate myself again.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I thought they were.

1) Right to post on DIS.
2) Right to vacation at WDW, DL or both.
3) Right to wear Disney clothes whenever and wherever you want.
4) Right to reused refillable mugs.
5) Right to fast passes.

 

[Deb in IA]

4) Right to reused refillable mugs.

 

[DawnCt1]

I do know my rights but all I know about the Simpsons is that one of them is yellow. Of course I don't know about "Friends" or Seinfeld either.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Is it bad that I got 4/5 of the rights (missed the same one you did)...but I got 5/5 right on the Simpsons.

Me too.

 

[RadioNate]

I got 4/5 rights (like everyone else I missed petition for redress) and it took a few seconds but I eventually got 5/5 Simpsons...I couldn't think of the baby's name right away.

Jay Leno's jaywalking is sad and a complete embarrasment. I choose not to believe people are that stupid but unfortunately I think I'm wrong.

 

[gate_pourri]

I just graduated with a degree in politics and currently work in field of politics, so I am happy to say that I knew all of them. Although if I didn't, I think my boss would have good reason to fire me... I also can proudly say I know all about Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie (as it is one of my TIVO's shows).

 

[Galahad]

I do know my rights but all I know about the Simpsons is that one of them is yellow. Of course I don't know about "Friends" or Seinfeld either.

This would have been us a couple of years ago. We've started watching the Simpsons in reruns/DVD's (we always get into things years later if at all). Still have never seen Seinfeld or Friends and I expect that to continue.

 

[jim and meesie]

This must be where all the smart DISers hangout. My DH and I were both Government majors in college, my DH even went to law school so I will have to test him on this. I'll try my very smart college son too, he'll probably just laugh at me.

There is something about old brain cells, it takes them awhile to warm up. Must be middle age brain freeze, I had a hard time thinking of the Simpsons (Jessica????, her sister whats her name???Duhhhhhh) didn't get them, and the first thing that came to mind was "life, liberty and the pursuit of hapiness", ok so I did get it after awhile but it wasn't on the tip of my tongue! Of course I got the American Idol judges, I could probably even name 80% of the contestants, Ayla, Kelly, Catherine, Paris, Melissa, Mandisa, Heather, Kinnick, Brenna, Ace, Taylor, Chris, Will, Kevin, Gideon, David, Bucky, Sway, Elliott, & Lisa. Phewwww, that's just sad!!!! Maybe I have a short term, long term memory thing!

 

[Chicago526]

oooo! I got 4 out of 5 right (missed redress of grievences).

 

[jim and meesie]

This must be where all the smart DISers hangout. My DH and I were both Government majors in college, my DH even went to law school so I will have to test him on this. I'll try my very smart college son too, he'll probably just laugh at me.

So I asked my law school educated husband, he stumbled on the Simpsons where my 13 and 10 year olds got those hands down. The funniest was my husband stumbling after 2-3 freedoms and my 13 year old daughter picking up and quickly whipping all five off but then proceeding to explain the first five ammendments too!

Definitely old vs. young brain cells!!!!