How many Americans have read the constitution and the bill of rights?

17... wait, some kid in Texas just read them for a school report, so 18.

Probably very few... based on the answers I've seen here. Examples are those who say the constitution uses the phrase "separation of church and state." Or those who quote the "inevitable rights" clause of the Declaration of Independence and say it is in the Constitution.

Funny you should mention the police. I once had to force a cop out of my house who tried to search it without a warrant.

Based on news interviews with "the common folk" and students, I would guess very few.

For example, when asked if they thought it was okay for the govermnet to take away rights to protect them from terrorists, alot said they thought that was okay.

But it's not okay. Our forefathers knew their history, and designed the Constitution in such away so that taking away rights was exceptionally difficult. Ben Franklin has oft been quoted: "They that give up liberty for temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security."

The forefathers knew that once a government started taking away rights, it was all downhill from there.

You'd like to think that people would be interested in these powerful documents that limit the power of government and protects them from the government, but they don't.

In this respect, I guess we get what we deserve.

~X~

Well I am a law student and I have read both. I would imagine countless other law students and lawyers have read both as well. As for the police my guess is considering how many of them behave that not many have read either one.

Reading is the easy part....it's the understanding and interpreting that is still being done in our courts today that's difficult.

People understand the "basics" but even the basic interpretations have been skewed to favor some.

" I would really like to know how many police know"

That one line says it all, what did you do? Something tells me you're trying to find something that isn't there. You should take the time to reread them yourself.

2212 scientist have read both of them. 2312 of everyone else has. Of course there were quite a few people who refused to answer the question. There is a small chance of error.

I have read it several times, and often I remind others and officals that they are trampling upon my bill of rights

Not sure about the police, but I have read both.

It's not so much who knows it and who dosen't, it's who chooses to obey it or try to go around it to get their way. Knowing can help you get around these kinds of people.