While cruising through some of my usual news sites, my interest was piqued by a news blurb that said only 44% of US elected officials could pass a civics literacy test. Of course, the news site was a Chinese newspaper, China Daily, and its methods of how they came up with that number are unavailable. They just quote some bureaucrat on whatever number he gives without revealing who took the testm where they are placed in government and their education.

I, too, took the test. And found that the average for November was only 77%.  Even that is likely skewed and not a serious statistic of American civic knowledge. Participation is “self-selected.” In other words, it isn’t a random cross section of Americans, but those who a) see the site and b) those who opt to take the test. A person who doesn’t read many internet sites or has low confidence in their ability to do well might never see or take the test. I doubt the 44% number as a measure of ALL of American elected officials. The 77% for all November seems a much more believable figure.

So, I challenge readers here to the same. How much do you know about American civics, government and history?

My score? 88.78%  Not bad for a ex-pat computer geek. Take the test yourself. Put your score in the coments below.