By Charles Brutlag @ Shutterstock.com
Yesterday was the 236th anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. At the Cato Institute, Emily Ekins reviews a survey conducted by Cato Institute and YouGov that found that many Americans believe the Founders would be disappointed in how the country is following the Constitution today. Ekins writes:
On this Constitution Day, 236 years after the US Constitution was ratified, Americans continue to express high regard for this monumental document. However, most worry about how it is currently being followed. A national survey of 2,000 Americans the Cato Institute conducted with YouGov found that 85% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Constitution. However, 70% believe the American Founders would be disappointed with how our country is following the Constitution today.
An overwhelming majority of Americans, 94%, believe that the Constitution is at least somewhat important for protecting their liberty, including 56% who believe it is extremely important. When asked how important various constitutionally protected rights are, Americans had favorites. (The survey asked Americans about rights explicitly stated in the Constitution, explicitly recognized by the courts and their legitimacy not seriously disputed, or explicitly recognized by the courts but may remain controversial.)
The largest majorities of Americans said that equal protection under the law (77%) was “extremely important” to them, as is the right to privacy (76%), the right to vote (75%), and if accused of a crime to be made aware of the accusation and evidence (75%), and the right of free speech (74%).
Next, large majorities believe that the right to private property (71%), a fair trial (70%), a trial by a jury (70%), freedom of religion (68%), due process of law (68%), freedom against unreasonable search and seizure (68%), freedom of assembly (67%), right to travel (65%), freedom of the press (62%), the right to self defense (61%), to marry (61%), to petition the government (57%), freedom against cruel and unusual punishment (54%), and the right to bear arms (39%) are extremely important.
Read more here.
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