Public Agenda
September 2002
In collaboration with the National Constitution Center, Public Agenda has released this interesting and, for the most part, reassuring study of Americans' attitudes toward their Constitution and the principles enshrined therein. Based on a summer '02 survey of 1500 adults, this 66-page report confirms that Americans have deep respect for their Constitution and the governmental system it ordained, even if they don't regard themselves as very knowledgeable about it. Few find America perfect-and people want their children to be taught history "warts and all"-but the nation's failings are generally seen as incomplete fulfillment of its principles and aspirations rather than something basically awry in those principles. The survey shows post-9/11 Americans generally willing to empower government to root out threats to the national security, but it also reveals the expected divisions over specific policy issues such as abortion. You can find it on-line at http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/constitution/constitution.htm.
