Recent studies by political scientists have shown that:
A) Americans' knowledge of politics is generally high
B) the average American exhibits little knowledge about political institutions, processes, or leaders
C) there is little connection between possessing political knowledge and being an effective citizen
D) younger people know much more about politics than older people
E) most Americans never make political decisions "on the cheap" by making use of shortcuts

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Multiple studies have shown that the average American has a low level of political knowledge. For example, a recent study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that only 39% of Americans could correctly name all three branches of government. Similarly, a study by Pew Research found that only 17% of Americans could correctly identify the current chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Answer: C 
 While having political knowledge can certainly be helpful in being an effective citizen, research has shown that there is not always a strong connection between the two. For example, some people may not have much political knowledge but still be effective at participating in political processes like voting or advocating for their preferred policies. On the other hand, some people with a lot of political knowledge may not necessarily use that knowledge effectively in their political actions.

Answers A, D, and E are incorrect because they do not align with the findings of recent studies.

Recent Studies by Political Scientists Have Shown That