# Wow, I didn't realize how little some voters know about government! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015 "2024-08-21T20:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/121 "2024-08-27T14:58:52Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > What I meant was, outside of a test setting, if you talk with someone they will generally understand that the President, Congress, and Supreme Court exist and are distinct. Perhaps not in Denver soon. I’ve heard that in Civics, they dropped teaching the three branches of government to make room in the curriculum for a unit on how to protest and a unit on immigration issues. Those units are a thing but give me time to confirm or deny what topics are being dropped for them. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/122 "2024-08-28T01:05:35Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > But “everyone” also includes six-month-old babies, and convicted felons currently in prison. Babies and incarcerated individuals have the same First Amendment rights as everyone else, believe it or not. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/123 "2024-08-28T01:17:55Z")
Prisoners have some First Amendment rights, but not the same as everyone. Prisons can put restrictions on their right to communicate with the outside world, depending on the facts of the particular case and prison security. Cite: ACLU [Free Speech in Prison | American Civil Liberties Union](https://www.aclu.org/issues/prisoners-rights/civil-liberties-prison/free-speech-prison#:~:text=Prohibiting%20prisoners%20from%20communicating%20with,institution's%20need%20to%20protect%20security). ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/124 "2024-08-28T01:25:21Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Babies and incarcerated individuals have the same First Amendment rights as everyone else, believe it or not. Neither of them has the right of free association or the right of assembly. Who they can associate with and who they can assemble with is controlled by other people; and this is entirely legal. Neither of them has the right to bear arms. Babies and many felons don’t have the right to vote. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/125 "2024-08-28T01:34:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > What makes a person an immigrant? A feeling that the current situation is not optimal and a willingness to make major changes to improve their situation. That and the resources and/or support to make the move, sure. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/126 "2024-08-28T01:35:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The point is that freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are rights specifically set out in the Constitution. It is obviously the intended answer. If we’re going to be nitpicking, and everybody is, they are set out not in the original Constitution but in the First Amendment. The right not to pay poll taxes - one of the other answers - is confirmed by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment. The trick part of the question is the word “everyone.” Everyone is protected by the First Amendment, including non-citizens, but only citizens are protected by the Twenty-Fourth. Sure, obviously the answer wanted is freedom of speech and freedom of assembly but that set of answers was far more confusing than the others I saw. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/127 "2024-08-28T01:48:48Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > What makes a person an immigrant? A feeling that the current situation is not optimal and a willingness to make major changes to improve their situation. > > That and the resources and/or support to make the move, sure. Yes, but the resources are an outside factor. The willingness to make the jump into a completely new situation is an internal factor. Not everyone has that. Many people would just accept the problems of their current situation because it’s what they’re used to rather than make a big change. America was made by people from all over the world who chose to move forward rather than staying where they are. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/128 "2024-08-28T01:56:44Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Prisoners have some First Amendment rights, but not the same as everyone. Prisons can put restrictions on their right to communicate with the outside world, depending on the facts of the particular case and prison security. There are also restrictions on a prisoner’s religious practices (which is distinct from a prisoner’s religious beliefs). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/129 "2024-08-28T02:54:41Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Prisons can put restrictions on their right to communicate with the outside world > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Neither of them has the right of free association or the right of assembly. Yes, I meant freedom of speech and association. Nobody has unlimited freedom of speech or association. First Amendment ‘rights’ are limited when narrowly tailored restrictions are necessary for a compelling government interest. The same rule determines the limits of everyone’s First Amendment rights, in every context (to the best of my knowledge). For example, students, members of the military, protesters, people walking in the streets, people posting online, &etc. So really you don’t _lose_ your First Amendment rights by virtue of being young, or being incarcerated, or any other personal status. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/130 "2024-08-28T04:07:28Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > If we’re going to be nitpicking, and everybody is, they are set out not in the original Constitution but in the First Amendment. Amendments are part of the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/131 "2024-08-28T06:02:03Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Prisoners have some First Amendment rights, but not the same as everyone. Prisons can put restrictions on their right to communicate with the outside world, depending on the facts of the particular case and prison security. Correct. Also felons do not have the right of assemble with other felons- except in a limited way in prisons. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/132 "2024-08-28T17:27:34Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > the right of free association Where is that in the constitution? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/133 "2024-08-28T17:36:49Z")
You apparently did not understand why I was replying to Peter Morris. Both quiz answers appear in the Constitution. His post made it appear as if the poll tax answer was not in the Constitution. I just nitpicked his wording, pointing out that the banning of poll tax was an Amendment just as freedom of speech and assembly were. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/134 "2024-08-28T17:58:13Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > the right of free association > > Where is that in the constitution? Not in those words, but it is considered to be in there: [https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1-8-1/ALDE\_00013139/](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1-8-1/ALDE_00013139/) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015/135 "2024-08-28T22:58:00Z")
My mistake, I meant assembly in #129 as that is what was in the question. ~Max [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-i-didnt-realize-how-little-some-voters-know-about-government/1006015.md?page=6)