I wrote almost two years ago that the right to a civil jury trial, protected in the Seventh Amendment, is the most ignored, unknown and endangered constitutional right in any of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. Not that I needed proof, but I saw it again over the weekend. The "Jeopardy" game show episode broadcast in the Washington, DC, area on Saturday, May 12, included a column of five questions titled, "Know Your Rights." If the results are a valid sample of the public's knowledge of the Bill of Rights, we are either doomed or at least in big trouble. Only two of the five questions were correctly answered, with three questions incorrectly answered. The Seventh Amendment was one of the subjects of an incorrectly answered question; the contestant said that threshold for a civil jury trial was $10, when it's $20. The 60% failure rate would have been a "F" in any classroom. In contrast, the contestants correctly answered four of the five questions about famous princesses and all five questions about an exercise workout.
You'd think that at a time when we hear concepts such as religious liberty, gun rights, free speech, and Tea Party, each with a basis in constitutional history, are thrown all over the mass media that the public would have a better idea of their origin.
The episode was originally broadcast on November 25, 2010, and you can see all of the questions on this website. Take the quiz yourself and see if you can correctly answer the the four other questions on constitutional rights (scroll the mouse over the dollar amount in the box for the correct answer).
Comment
Comment by Anne Bishop on May 17, 2012 at 9:04am I think whoever wrote the answers to the questions needs to re-read the 1st amendment.
Comment by USARogue on May 14, 2012 at 10:49pm Two simple questions to ask most Americans to find out the level of illiteracy we have with respect to our civics education.
1. Ask how many Freedoms the First Amendment offers us.
2. Ask them to name the Simpson's Family members.
I'll let you guess which one they answer more correctly.
Comment by Patricia Castellano on May 14, 2012 at 2:20pm 
Comment by Mike NQR on May 14, 2012 at 1:25pm Stacie, I have, and carry with me, one of those pocket Declarations and Constitution. Probably not one of yours but one I appropriated a few years ago. Every time I'm reading in a semi-public place it seems someone has a question. I took US History and the Constitution exam in 8th grade, 11th grade, and college as was required by Illinois law at the time, but nothing beats having it with you all the time.
Comment by Chas Jones on May 14, 2012 at 1:04pm I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. I attended only public schools [even though Columbus is Ohio's capital city I walked to elementary, junior, and senior high schools]. When I graduated in 1973, Principles of Democracy [POD] was a required course needed to graduate. However, my Class was the last where this was the case. Beginning in 1974 POD became an elective along side other electives such as journalism and current events. I have not checked to see if POD or civics was ever reintroduced as a graduation requirement.
Most parents today of school-age kids have no clue what our history and heritage is, especially concerning civics. The last statistic I recall hearing before I retired to another State was that Columbus Public School kids only had 40% reading, writing, and comprehending AT grade level.
Folks, Satan and his followers and allies are destroying US. Our nations People need a MASSIVE Wake Up Call.
Comment by Kristin Fecteau on May 14, 2012 at 12:42pm well I don't think it's the end of America that people don't know $20 for a jury trial, but the rest of it is surprising and saddening that people don't know.
Comment by Stacie Addison on May 14, 2012 at 12:34pm It's a terrible shame how few are familiar with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, I used to be one of the ignorant, most especially those we call "elected officials".. I've reread all these documents and continue to reread them. In an effort to wake some people up I have purchased pocket copies of the Constitution which are $.50 plus shipping and if you buy enough the shipping cost per book is miniscule. I purchased 50 and am ready to get some more - https://patriotpostshop.com/categories/85 - Most everyone I've given away was received with a "thank you" - if of those 50 only one person reads it, I will feel I have accomplished something.. Get it, read it, carry it, give it... https://patriotpostshop.com/categories/85
© 2013 Created by Judson Phillips.
You need to be a member of Tea Party Nation to add comments!
Join Tea Party Nation