UT’s Institute of American Civics Survey Shows Urgent Need for Civics Education in Tennessee

The Institute of American Civics, housed in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, conducted a statewide survey this spring examining civic knowledge and participation by Tennesseans.

The survey report says its results lead to two obvious conclusions: "It is crucial that Tennesseans develop a higher level of civic knowledge, and the process will not be easy. Strong efforts will need to be made at the K-12 level, in universities, and in the general public across the state."

Key findings include:

• Only about half of respondents knew that Tennessee has a state constitution.
• Fewer than half of respondents said they know who their state legislators are, and only around one-third said they knew their county commissioner or city council member.
• Nearly half of respondents said they were somewhat or extremely worried about their reputation being harmed by a political opinion they post on social media or say at work, and a third said they were less likely to discuss politics with friends and family than 10 years ago.

"We've got to do a better job in classrooms, workplaces and the media at informing our citizens. This survey illustrates there's a deficit to overcome," said Josh Dunn, executive director of the IAC. "Our federal constitutional system depends on informed participation at all levels. Self-government requires more. It requires citizens educated in and committed to constitutional government."

According to Dunn, the survey was developed to establish a baseline for civic knowledge among Tennesseans as well as to measure their willingness to engage in political activity and discuss politics with friends and co-workers. This is the first time time the survey has been conducted.

In addition to the three key findings, the survey polled Tennesseans on the meaning of civility and how much attention they pay to politics. While less than half of the respondents said they pay a lot of attention to politics, most said they want to make things better as opposed to avoiding discussing tough issues.

Dunn said the institute will use the results to shape programming priorities for public events and educational initiatives, especially efforts aimed at reaching K-12 students and Tennesseans in general.

"The Institute of American Civics was created to strengthen civic education and participation while reviving thoughtfulness, civility and respect for opposing viewpoints in Tennessee," said Dunn. "To reach these goals, we must understand where the climb begins. These results illustrate exactly why the IAC is needed and where our efforts should be directed."

About the Methodology
Carried out by UT's Social Work Office of Research and Public Service, the survey was conducted from April 17 to May 10, 2024, and had 1,060 adult respondents across Tennessee, utilizing mixed methods to reach respondents. The margin of error was 3%. The complete results can be found on the IAC website.

About the Institute for American Civics
The 112th Tennessee General Assembly created the Institute of American Civics to strengthen civic education and participation while reviving thoughtfulness, civility and respect for opposing viewpoints in national discourse. The IAC is committed to improving civic knowledge and civil discourse through courses, student programs, public events and K-12 outreach.

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Media Contact:

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