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Topic: This is rather disconcerting
Mr_Music's photo
Sun 11/23/08 09:49 AM
US officials flunk test of Amerian history, economics, civics

Thu Nov 20, 2:24 pm ET ISI – US elected officials scored abysmally on a test measuring their civic knowledge, with an average grade … WASHINGTON (AFP) – US elected officials scored abysmally on a test measuring their civic knowledge, with an average grade of just 44 percent, the group that organized the exam said Thursday.

Ordinary citizens did not fare much better, scoring just 49 percent correct on the 33 exam questions compiled by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI).

"It is disturbing enough that the general public failed ISI's civic literacy test, but when you consider the even more dismal scores of elected officials, you have to be concerned," said Josiah Bunting, chairman of the National Civic Literacy Board at ISI.

"How can political leaders make informed decisions if they don't understand the American experience?" he added.

The exam questions covered American history, the workings of the US government and economics.

Among the questions asked of some 2,500 people who were randomly selected to take the test, including "self-identified elected officials," was one which asked respondents to "name two countries that were our enemies during World War II."

Sixty-nine percent of respondents correctly identified Germany and Japan. Among the incorrect answers were Britain, China, Russia, Canada, Mexico and Spain.

Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.

Asked about the electoral college, 20 percent of elected officials incorrectly said it was established to "supervise the first televised presidential debates."

In fact, the system of choosing the US president via an indirect electoral college vote dates back some 220 years, to the US Constitution.

The question that received the fewest correct responses, just 16 percent, tested respondents' basic understanding of economic principles, asking why "free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government's centralized planning?"

Activities that dull Americans' civic knowledge include talking on the phone and watching movies or television -- even news shows and documentaries, ISI said.

Meanwhile, civic knowledge is enhanced by discussing public affairs, taking part in civic activities and reading about current events and history, the group said.


It's even more scary when you realize that the newspaper that printed this story even misspelled the word "American" in the title.

scared

JustAGuy2112's photo
Sun 11/23/08 09:51 AM
Did anyone REALLY think that the people who run this country are any smarter than the rest of us?

no photo
Sun 11/23/08 09:52 AM
Edited by quiet_2008 on Sun 11/23/08 09:53 AM
just goes to show that "the people" are too stupid (or disengaged) to be allowed to make decisions for the country

we should put me in charge


Mr_Music's photo
Sun 11/23/08 09:58 AM

just goes to show that "the people" are too stupid (or disengaged) to be allowed to make decisions for the country

we should put me in charge


THEN sh!t would get done, by cracky!! rofl rofl

no photo
Sun 11/23/08 09:59 AM
my first executive order: a complete top to bottom audit of all government agencies and programs

Mr_Music's photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:06 AM
They'd fold faster than Superman on wash day.

no photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:07 AM
and it would prolly free up enough money for free healthcare for everyone

TxsGal3333's photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:17 AM


Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.



It's even more scary when you realize that the newspaper that printed this story even misspelled the word "American" in the title.

scared




But does this not in fact pretty much say that the President can declare war but in a round about way. Due to he does not call it a war at first but a Police action then a few months later can call it a War. Hummm


Congress
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress alone the authority to formally declare war. But in several past conflicts Congress has relinquished this authority to the president. In fact, Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war since World War II.

U.S. presidents after World War II have assumed most of the authority to send U.S. troops into battle. The Korean War (1950-1953), for example, was regarded by the U.S. government as a police action rather than as a war, and President Harry S. Truman never sought a declaration of war from Congress. And in 1964 Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which effectively ceded to President Lyndon B. Johnson the ability to wage war against Vietnam. Congress passed a similar resolution on January 12, 1991, authorizing President George H. W. Bush to use force against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War.

The current president Bush also never sought a formal declaration of war from Congress. Instead, he requested, and received, the authority to use armed forces "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" to defend American interests against "the continuing threat posed by Iraq."


So therefore could that not make the 54 percent wrong in a way for the President may not use the same words as I declare War but in fact he can carry on in the same manner and the same actions are taken place?

cutelildevilsmom's photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:35 AM
Still see Congress in both those actions.Congress still has to give approval.Once the president has it,he is Commander in Chief.Congress also controls the purse strings.No money,no war.

cutelildevilsmom's photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:38 AM
Civics should be a mandatory class in high school.

no photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:41 AM



Forty percent of respondents, meanwhile, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.



It's even more scary when you realize that the newspaper that printed this story even misspelled the word "American" in the title.

scared




But does this not in fact pretty much say that the President can declare war but in a round about way. Due to he does not call it a war at first but a Police action then a few months later can call it a War. Hummm


Congress
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress alone the authority to formally declare war. But in several past conflicts Congress has relinquished this authority to the president. In fact, Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war since World War II.

U.S. presidents after World War II have assumed most of the authority to send U.S. troops into battle. The Korean War (1950-1953), for example, was regarded by the U.S. government as a police action rather than as a war, and President Harry S. Truman never sought a declaration of war from Congress. And in 1964 Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which effectively ceded to President Lyndon B. Johnson the ability to wage war against Vietnam. Congress passed a similar resolution on January 12, 1991, authorizing President George H. W. Bush to use force against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War.

The current president Bush also never sought a formal declaration of war from Congress. Instead, he requested, and received, the authority to use armed forces "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" to defend American interests against "the continuing threat posed by Iraq."


So therefore could that not make the 54 percent wrong in a way for the President may not use the same words as I declare War but in fact he can carry on in the same manner and the same actions are taken place?


the War Powers Act gives the President authority to deploy American troops. But then he has 90 days to justify it to Congress and they can either concur or order the troops brought home

But to actually officially declare War. Only Congress can

no photo
Sun 11/23/08 10:41 AM

Civics should be a mandatory class in high school.


d'accord

no photo
Sun 11/23/08 04:54 PM

and it would prolly free up enough money for free healthcare for everyone
If we dont do something to control costs of health care it will be the next to fail.grumble

Redshirt's photo
Sun 11/23/08 05:48 PM

Civics should be a mandatory class in high school.




It is and has been for a number of years. Tragically that doesn't mean students are that concerned about how it relates to their lives. frustrated

Drivinmenutz's photo
Mon 11/24/08 04:31 AM

Civics should be a mandatory class in high school.


Agreed. Although i doubt we will see it while the department of education still exists.

warmachine's photo
Mon 11/24/08 04:37 AM


Civics should be a mandatory class in high school.


Agreed. Although i doubt we will see it while the department of education still exists.


Civics was taught at my tiny little Christian academy that I graduated from. I wonder where all my opposition to the current system of things comes from?

Another mandatory class that should be taught in high schools is "Life Skills" where they teach these kids about applicable math, such as the power of compound interest and how to budget a check book and how to shop without binge buying.

Alot of these elected officials aren't being elected because they are the best for the job, our election process from the top down has turned into a high school student council election, popularity first.

warmachine's photo
Mon 11/24/08 07:37 AM
Lets do this!

You can take the exact same exam here:


http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

Post your scores, lets just see if we are smarter than our "elected" officials!

Gonna go take mine now, have fun!


warmachine's photo
Mon 11/24/08 07:44 AM
You answered 31 out of 33 correctly — 93.94 %

Average score for this quiz during November: 78.0%
Average score: 78.0%

You can take the quiz as often as you like, however, your score will only count once toward the monthly average.

Could have been worse. Missed 30 and 31, let my own ideas conflict with the answer the quiz was looking for... Jerk of a quiz!

In this regard, am I more qualified to run for elected office?

no photo
Mon 11/24/08 09:29 AM
You answered 30 out of 33 correctly — 90.91 %

Answers to Your Missed Questions:
Question #4 - XXXX
Question #7 - XXXX
Question #11 - XXXX

I suck at history...

no photo
Mon 11/24/08 09:38 AM
I got 31 out of 33

but I'm not sure what Aristotle and Plato had to do with American Government

or Sputnik

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