Q & A with CivicStory VP & Founder, Susan Haig

Why did you create the civics & history survey, and what were its aims?

The need for civic learning and education has been widely noted. Since most of us have aged out of middle or high school civics, we thought a series of short surveys could engage people in basic concepts, within a few minutes. While the format is simple, civic ideas can be profound.

How is it unique or different from other opinion surveys?

We were mindful that school teachers across the country need ways to approach history and civics that are nonpartisan and factual. Especially for understanding January 6, a non-politicized common sense view is essential. We sought advice from NH Civics, an excellent civic education nonprofit in the state of New Hampshire, to ensure that our questions were objective, clear and logical.

“Civic” means “citizens in relation to the whole community and society.”  While many polls assume a “partisan divide,” our questions were more oriented to the Constitution – a faction and party-free zone!  That creates a different feel and different results. 

What are the takeaways? Were there any surprises?  

There was far more alignment on questions than we expected. Even for a small, informal survey, more than 90% agreement on four questions is remarkable. People are quite clear on the oath of office, key presidential tasks, reasons for a joint session of Congress 1/6/21, and presidential impropriety during the attack on the U.S. Capitol.  

The most contested question – whether citizens in America delegate all their authority to their elected representatives – is crucial and will be interesting to explore in a survey #3. 

We hope civics-based surveys might be tested by academic survey centers. Civic and ethical thinking may well be more prevalent than we thought. 

Below are the results of the second Civics & History Survey

CivicStory history & civics survey #2 - 115 total responses:                   

Q1. In the U.S., the terms of newly elected Presidents, Vice Presidents, and members of Congress begin at noon on the 3rd of January.

yes: 18.5% (21)

no:  81.5% (93)

Q2. A joint session of Congress was convened on the afternoon of January 6, 2021, to certify the votes of each state’s electors following the November 2020 general election.

yes:  95%     (108)

no:     5%     (6)

Q3. Before taking office, newly elected US presidents are administered an Oath to:  

1) faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and                                 

2) to the best of their ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

yes:  98% (113)

no:     2% (2)

Q4. In American democracy, U.S. citizens (“we the people”) delegate all our authority to our elected representatives.   

yes:   32.5%  (37)

no:    67.5%  (77)

Q5. Some of the tasks of the U.S. President specified in the US Constitution are to: 

• Give Congress information about the State of the Union 

• Take care that the laws be faithfully executed

• Serve as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army and Navy 

yes:  95.6%        (110)

no:     4.4%      (5)

Q6. On the afternoon of January 6, 2021, during an attack on the US Capitol and its police, the duties of the U.S. president were properly executed.

yes:        6%     (7)

 no:       94%  (105)