How come Americans don't read the Constitution of the U.S. ?

Question

It is simple to read and understand. Our lives and freedom depend on it, yet so few people read it. Most people misunderstand it especially those in the legal profession.

Answer 1

Simple my foot. I am an educated woman and even I get confused by the Constitution. I do understand the basic premise but it is still a very complex document.

Reading the Cliff Notes version does not make it "simple to read and understand."

Answer 2

I agree with you. The only time Americans are required to read it is in school. But I believe the teachers find it too difficult to understand, and therefore too difficult to teach. Therefore, the teachers concentrate on teaching subjects likeTribal Dancing, The History of Sports, and Early Morning Bird Calls. They also throw in an occasional trip to the zoo or the museum.

Kids and adults prefer to be at the mall, the ball game, bowling, or watching TV. The Constitution might be simple to read, but most people can't comprehend it, or simply don't want to.

It's apathy (They don't care)
It's lack of motivation
It's laziness
It's a desire to do the easy stuff and let the tough stuff slide.

Answer 3

I wouldn't call it simple. The reading level is probably quite a bit higher than that attained by most citizens.

A lot of people "read" it, in the sense of decoding the words, way back when they were in school, but that doesn't mean they understood it, as our educational system doesn't require understanding from students.

The current reform movement in social studies emphasizes use of primary documents, but I don't know if they approach it in a helpful way. (From what I"ve seen, I doubt it.)

In the past, most people probably didn't have a copy of it. Of course, now, with the Internet, it's easily available to everyone.

Though reading the Constitution alone isn't sufficient, I agree it's a worthwhile thing. (You'd need passing familiarity with key Supreme Court rulings, for instance.)

But you'd also need to think about it in a deep way. I firmly believe this is one thing every student should do in school.

The way we currently teach, however, discourages deep thought.

If more people really read it, you'd see a lot less of the really gross misinterpretations of the roles of the various branches of government. (For instance, a lot of people seem to believe the President's power is absolute, and Congress is supposed to just go along with whatever he says -- well, that's what he himself thinks, too, doesn't he? WRONG!)

I don't know about "especially those in the legal profession" -- they probably have a better sense of it than most.

Years ago Bill Moyers took an untitled copy of the Bill of Rights to Central Park, and read and showed various Amendments to people and asked them what they thought.

Not only did they not recognize it, but they actually disagreed with much of it. YIKES!

A waggish Representative once put the text of the 4th Amendment up for vote in the House, and it was voted down as a bad idea.

This is indeed scary.

But you may have inspired a few people to give it a read with this question.

Answer 4

I think that much can be attributed to what is stressed in the school systems. Going to a public school system, I learned nothing about the Constitution until I took A.P. Government my junior year of high school. What happens to those other students who don't choose that course? Sure, they know of the Constitution through history classes, that it exists and that it is the basic structure of our government, but until the school systems give civics an important role in education, not just at the high school level to fulfill a graduation requirement, I think people will be missing out on useful information for a long time. Our government depends on an educated electorate... Isn't it sad?

Answer 5

Yes, it's good to read the Constitution. But there are limits to what one can understand from a plain reading of it. The Constitution does not equal all of constitutional law, although it would be nice if that were true.

You're right about the legal profession. They don't understand the law the way you do.

Answer 6

97.4% of it. i agree we talk so much about freedom and legal rights but the when it come to the constitution we have it all wrong matter of fact half of what we are doing is against the constitution. More people should read it thats why here in Florida (i know its not much) kids are researching and reading about reading sections of it and learning the history of it we need to start enforcing the learning in our schools to make the future easier for our kids and maybe shine a light through this tough world

Answer 7

When I was in high school over 40 years ago we had a history class that had us study the Bill of Rights and US Constitution?
I guess the extra 40 years of history has taken that topic out of the curriculum. I think it should be studied.

Answer 8

You are correct. As I understand it, each of my children have had to read and memorize parts of the Declaration of Independence during their sixth grade years.

Personally, I think that their should be a class for every high school senior that is devoted to teaching the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the U.S., and the Bill of Rights.

I think it would be beneficial to everybody.

It's been close to 20 years since I sat down and read it. Thanks for the idea. I'm fixing to sit down and read it again.

Answer 9

Because reading it is long and boring. Try reading "Das Capital." I have read some of both, and I am still confused. I have read the "Magna Carta," which was written by my ancestor and a group of friends. None of these documents are "easy reading." They should be studied with great care.

Answer 10

Ever hear the saying if you tell a lie long enough people will believe it? Those who don't bother to read it for themselves only parrot what they have been told. They are too willing to give up their rights as citizens! Some believe that ignorance is bliss in not obtaining a proper, historically correct education.