America was founded 250 years ago on the notion that the government derives its power from the people it governs. In a world dominated by monarchies, this notion was radical, and the Founding Fathers knew their experiment in people power would work only if those people were educated in how government works, and were engaged in selecting representatives who reflected their priorities. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The people are the safe depositories of their own liberty, and … are not safe unless enlightened.”
How engaged are Americans today in their own democracy? There are signs that Americans’ basic understanding of civics is increasing, with more than 70% of Americans being able to name the three branches of government, according to a September 2025 report from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. This is up from 26% a decade before. Yet only 17% of Americans say they trust the government to do what is right, according to a Pew Research Center survey in September 2025…
Nicholas Longo, director of the Rutgers Democracy Lab at Rutgers University, says young people want to be engaged, and when they have opportunities, they do great things. In these tumultuous and highly polarized times, teaching young people civics skills can have a profound impact on society, he says.
“We need to figure out how to find common ground,” Professor Longo says. “So I think there’s some basic civic skills that we all need to have. And it should be built into our educational settings. How do you get good as a musician, as an athlete? You get good through practice.”