Civics and Civility

From Justice Neil Gorsuch at Townhall:

Some of this is pretty self-evident. You need to know about politicians, their views, and how they compare with others in order to elect representatives who will speak for you. You need to know, as well, about your rights in order to enforce them. You’re more likely to speak your mind freely if you know that the First Amendment protects freedom of speech. You’re more likely to protest the police rifling through your papers if you know the government cannot con- duct unreasonable searches. You’re more likely to worship as you choose if you know your prayers are protected against government interference. 

But if we are to be a self-governing people, we need to know not just our rights but the structures that protect them. Our government is one of limited and separated powers, a design deliberately chosen to secure the promise of self-rule and our liberties and to prevent the accumulation of power in too few hands. Yet, according to Annenberg, today it seems only about a quarter of Americans can name the three branches of government. Approximately a third cannot name any branch. Many do not know why the founders established this separation of powers or how it protects their liberties. Civic education is no longer a central part of the curriculum in many of our public schools. (Read more.)

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