Survey Finds Americans Understand Constitution Most Americans understand more about the Constitution than was commonly believed, according to a recent study entitled “Knowing it by Heart: Americans Consider the Constitution and its Meaning.” Conducted by Public Agenda for the National Constitution Center, the study consisted of personal interviews, focus groups in different regions across the country, and a national telephone survey. The study found that while participants often could not recall specific facts related to the Constitution, the vast majority had a grasp of its basic principles and conveyed a broad acceptance of those principles. According to the study report, “[A]mericans, as if by second nature, are actually quite comfortable with the values and principles embodied in the Constitution. Beneath a surface ignorance of what each Amendment says typically lies an internalized understanding of the rights and principles it guarantees.” Americans also believe that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution go hand in hand with civic responsibility, including jury service. Despite the complaints often voiced about being called for jury duty, the survey found that 72 percent of Americans think “people who routinely avoid jury duty are failing to live up to the responsibilities of citizenship.” Only 25 percent of those survey expressed understanding for those who avoid jury service given their busy lives. For more information on these and other study findings, visit www.constitutioncenter.org.