2016 National Civics Survey Results

In honor of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute’s first anniversary, we commissioned a national poll to probe Americans’ knowledge of the Senate, levels of civic interest and attitudes towards government. Many Americans lack basic knowledge of how the U.S. Senate works and our system of checks and balances. Despite the recent death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, few Americans understand the Senate’s role in a new justice’s confirmation. Few Americans are using their representative in Washington and many doubt that contacting their Senators or Congressman or woman would make a difference. Despite this, Americans still believe they “can make social and political change.”