In an era where civic knowledge is on the decline, initiatives aimed at strengthening citizens’ understanding of government and law have never been more crucial.

Recent surveys reveal troubling gaps in Americans’ basic civic knowledge, with many unable to name fundamental rights or understand the branches of government. To address this, The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section is leading efforts to improve civic engagement through its annual Teachers’ Law Symposium, a resource for Florida educators tasked with preparing the next generation to be informed and active citizens.

The Annenberg Center for Public Policy’s 2024 survey of Americans’ civic knowledge found most people cannot name their First Amendment rights and the branches of government. And in Florida, preliminary results of a 2024 survey by the Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics found less than 50% of approximately 1,000 people asked were able to correctly answer five basic U.S. civics questions.