Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie -- the five members of The Simpsons have apparently become better known than the five freedoms of the First Amendment.

A recent study by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members while only one person in 1,000 surveyed could name all five freedoms of the First Amendment.

"Sadly, it is not surprising that Americans' knowledge about the First Amendment is clearly lacking and inadequate," said Clay Calvert, co-director of the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment.

Lauren Rishe (junior-telecommunications) could name every member of the Simpson family but could not recall all five topics in the First Amendment.

"I get the gist of the amendments, but unless I'm a lawyer, it's not that important to me," Rishe said.

The First Amendment protects freedoms of speech, press, religious liberty, assembly and petition, Calvert said.

"Whether it is the [Federal Communications Commission] cracking down on indecent content or the ability of editors to publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad -- we should all know a little more," Calvert said.

The survey was conducted through telephone interviews with a random selection of 1,000 American adults aged 18 to 44.

Calvert said it is important for students to know their First Amendment freedoms so they can "engage in free speech" and become "politically active."

Young people should have a wider knowledge of culture that has room for both The Simpsons and the Constitution, said Kevin Hagopian, senior lecturer in media studies.

Hagopian said he was not familiar with this particular study but was reminded of a previous study that examined Americans' knowledge of a Nobel Prize winner versus Mick Jagger. He added that although there is a legitimate concern that people do not know the Constitution, he believes these studies are done once every 10 years to show how "stupid" Americans have become.

"There is a cultural perspective that the Nobel Prize winner is more significant than Mick Jagger ... but I think that question ought to be left up to the individual to decide," Hagopian said.

He added that he is not sure why the researchers chose The Simpsons to study.

"If you can get, and understand, all of the allusions in one single Simpsons' episode, you are an extremely smart person," Hagopian said.

Jessica Doris (junior-psychology) said she thinks the reason for the results is because The Simpsons is televised in syndication five times a week, and it's become "basic knowledge."

Lizzy Allan (junior-animal bioscience) could name four of the five freedoms in the First Amendment as well as four members of the Simpsons family.

Martin Halstuk, senior fellow for the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment, said he is not sure of the validity of the study but said he is disappointed if the findings are representative.

Halstuk said he is deeply "shocked" and "saddened" by the study's findings. As an immigrant who moved to the country as a small child, Halstuk said he would never lose sight of the five "crucial" rights that the First Amendment has to offer.

"There is a greatness that flows from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights," Halstuk said.

Calvert said there is not only a harm of ignorance associated with not knowing the First Amendment but also the possibility of a loss of freedoms.

"If we don't know our rights, then the government can easily stop those rights ... knowing the First Amendment is vital to having a truly democratic society," Calvert said.

He said students could find more information at www.firstamendmentcenter.org.