Americans know more about The Simpsons TV show than the US Constitution’s First Amendment, an opinion poll says. Only one in four could name more than one of the five freedoms it upholds but more than half could name at least two members of the cartoon family.

Another finding from the poll, a telephone survey of 1,000 random adults with an error margin of 3%, was that 22% of Americans could name all five Simpson characters. By comparison, just one in 1,000 people could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

The names of American Idol TV show judges and popular advertising slogans also proved more memorable than the five freedoms – speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.

Nice to know we have our priorities in order.



  1. NumLock says:

    Now, a study on the frequency of Simpsons quotes in lieu of wit.

  2. I wish I could dig up a survey I saw a few years back that there is a significant portion of people who believe that the two party system (democrat/republican) is enshrined in our constitution…

    So in short, this statistic does not suprise me one bit.

  3. Todd says:

    Hmmm…The Simpsons are on numerous times every day and in order to fully enjoy the show, you have to know the names of the charactrers.

    hmmm…I can’t think of a time in my entire life that I needed to know which amendment gives me freedom of religion (or speech or assembly, etc.) in order to enjoy that freedom.

    Why should we be surprised or disappointed about this at all? It’s a silly, irrelevant comparison.

  4. NumLock says:

    A better comparison would be the national anthem versus the theme to Gilligan’s Island.

  5. Rick Blair says:

    thats because our freedoms are being taken away byt the current administration, but the simpsons will live on.

  6. James Hill says:

    thats because our freedoms are being taken away byt the current administration, but the simpsons will live on.

    It took six replies for a crackpot to post this. C’mon libs, get in shape! You need to be in the top three to get any attention!

  7. Don Smith says:

    I say have Snoop Dog and Death Cab for Cutie make a wrap song of the 1st Amendment. Maybe we’ll remember it better.

  8. T.C. Moore says:

    petition for redress of grievances.

    Remembering that lobbying is one of the only constitutionally protected jobs is just depressing. I shunt that memory to my subconscience.

  9. Mr. Fusion says:

    T.C.

    Geez man, you really know how to dampen someone’s enthusiasm.

  10. NumLock says:

    Death Cab for Cutie does rap now?

  11. tom says:

    this is rubish!!!!


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