A New Survey Finds Many Adults Can't Name Their Lawmakers — and Why That Starts at Home

Most parents want their children to grow up understanding how their country works. But a new survey suggests that even many adults struggle with the basics — from naming their own state lawmakers to knowing whether their state has a constitution. The findings point to a gap that begins long before adulthood, and they offer a reminder of how much civic learning still happens around the kitchen table.

The research comes from the Institute of American Civics, housed at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. Nearly 1,100 Tennesseans took part in the survey, conducted in November 2025 using a mix of telephone and internet polling. It is the institute's second statewide look at civic attitudes.

Many Can't Name Their Lawmakers: What the Survey Found

The results pointed to clear gaps in basic civic knowledge. Only about half of respondents knew that Tennessee has a state constitution, and fewer than half said they knew who their state legislators were. Nearly half said they were somewhat or extremely worried that their reputation could be harmed by political opinions shared online or at work.

The survey also found that people broadly support civility — but don't agree on what it means. Some defined it as respectful disagreement, while others saw it as avoiding controversy altogether.

The Link Between Knowledge and Tolerance

Beyond the gaps, researchers found a more hopeful pattern: civic knowledge appears connected to a greater willingness to engage constructively with people who hold opposing views. According to the report, the findings line up with a growing body of national research suggesting that knowing how government works is tied to greater political tolerance.

"Civic knowledge does more than improve factual understanding," said Joshua Dunn, executive director of the IAC. "It may also strengthen the habits and dispositions that allow citizens to disagree productively within a constitutional system."

The report argues that understanding constitutional structures can help people place their political disagreements within a larger democratic framework, rather than treating every dispute as a winner-take-all contest. The institute says it plans to use the results to shape its courses, public events, and K-12 outreach aimed at improving civic literacy and encouraging dialogue across differences.

Why Starting Young Matters

For families, the takeaway is straightforward: the habits and knowledge that make for an engaged citizen tend to take root early. The survey measured adults, but the gaps it found — not knowing who represents you, or whether your state even has a constitution — point to learning that never happened, or never stuck, earlier in life. Children who grow up talking about how government works are far more likely to carry that understanding into adulthood, when it shapes whether they vote, show up to local meetings, or simply feel they have a stake in the decisions around them.

That kind of foundation rarely comes from a single classroom unit. It builds over years of small, ordinary moments — explaining a ballot measure at the dinner table, pointing out a city council sign, or talking through how to disagree with someone respectfully. When kids learn these things young, they are not just memorizing facts for a test; they are forming the dispositions the report ties to greater tolerance and more constructive dialogue. Involving children early, in other words, is one of the most direct ways to raise the informed and engaged citizens the next generation will need.

The full report is available on the institute's website.