A third of Americans cannot name the three branches of the federal government, according to the 2026 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) at the University of Pennsylvania. The survey, based on responses from 1,034 U.S. adults, found that 35% were unable to name all three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial. This means that 65% of respondents could correctly identify the three branches, a figure that has remained relatively stable in recent years, with similar results recorded in 2024 and 2025. The survey also looked at knowledge of the First Amendment, which protects five key rights. While most Americans could name freedom of speech, fewer were able to identify the other rights. Only 43% named freedom of religion, 31% named freedom of assembly, and 29% named freedom of the press. Just 12% mentioned the right to petition the government. In total, 9% of respondents correctly listed all five rights, while 24% could not name any. Notably, 25% mistakenly cited the right to bear arms, which is protected by the Second Amendment, not the First. Another finding from the survey relates to the rights of undocumented immigrants. Over half (56%) of respondents believed it was inaccurate to claim that undocumented individuals have no constitutional rights, while 44% thought it was accurate. The Supreme Court has historically ruled that constitutional protections apply to all people within the United States, regardless of immigration status. In addition, 76% of respondents correctly understood that children born in the U.S. automatically gain citizenship, regardless of their parents’ citizenship status, a principle known as birthright citizenship. The survey also assessed understanding of other constitutional concepts, such as the veto power, the role of the Supreme Court, and states’ rights. For example, 83% knew that a presidential veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress. However, misconceptions remained: 18% incorrectly believed that a Supreme Court decision is sent back to Congress, and 12% thought it is sent to a federal court of appeals. On the topic of states’ rights, half of respondents correctly identified that powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people, as outlined in the 10th Amendment. However, over a third were unsure, and 13% believed the opposite.