[AGL] Use it....or lose it

[Wayne Johnson]

D’oh! More know Simpsons than Constitution
Study: America more familiar with cartoon family than First Amendment

The Associated Press
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. (Survey: can you name the five freedoms?)

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