ABA to unveil results of Survey of Civic Literacy

How many Americans know the name of the U.S. chief justice?

Or what rights are protected by the First Amendment? Or which are reserved for citizens and which rights are enjoyed by non-citizens, too?

And whether the First Amendment protects flag-burning as a political protest?

To mark Law Day, the American Bar Association will release the results of its first Survey of Civic Literacy on Wednesday, May 1, at 4:30 p.m. at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

ABA President Bob Carlson, Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and Gene Policinski, president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute, will provide insights into the survey findings on civic knowledge and support for the First Amendment.

The ABA Survey of Civic Literacy assesses the American public’s knowledge of basic civic information, concepts and constitutional protections.

The nationally representative poll also takes a close look at the public’s feelings about the First Amendment and their understanding of how First Amendment protections apply in everyday situations.

It was undertaken in conjunction with this year’s national Law Day theme, “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Society.”

“American democracy cannot succeed without an informed citizenry,” Carlson said. “It is vital that everyone share the same basic knowledge about the foundations of our democracy — the rule of law — and our rights and responsibilities.”