{
  "id": 14254997,
  "title": "The Real Divide in America Goes Beyond Left vs. Right | Opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/the-real-divide-in-america-goes-beyond-left-vs-right-opinion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T17:28:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/civic-education-beyond-memorization-understanding-government-12560835"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Political division in America often feels like an unbridgeable chasm between those who identify as left and right. However, this perception may be misleading. While disagreement is a natural part of democratic discourse, the problem may not lie solely in differing opinions. Instead, research suggests that Americans may lack a sufficient grasp of government, public institutions, and civic processes needed to understand how decisions are made and how they can participate. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that a majority of U.S. adults believe Republican and Democratic voters cannot agree on basic facts about important issues. Similarly, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reported in 2026 that nearly a third of Americans could not name all three branches of government. These issues may seem distinct, but they highlight a larger challenge: a shared understanding of how the government functions and where public decisions are made. Civic education, therefore, should not aim to instill a specific political viewpoint, but rather to provide people with the tools to comprehend the systems in which political choices are made. While government information is publicly accessible, its complexity can sometimes hinder understanding. Individuals may struggle to discern which branch holds authority over an issue, when public input is possible, and what happens after legislation is passed. Effective civic education should go beyond rote memorization of facts, delving into the nuances of local ordinances versus federal laws, the legislative process, the roles of agencies, and avenues for citizen involvement. Separating disagreements about facts from disagreements about values is crucial. Civic literacy can help people distinguish between claims and trace them back to their sources, whether those are bills, court decisions, government reports, agency rules, budget documents, or election authorities. This skill can make political disagreements more informed rather than less so. Students can benefit from engaging in meaningful civic experiences, such as expressing their views in school, which can foster higher political efficacy and civic engagement, according to a 2025 analysis by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. While one classroom experience does not determine a person's lifelong political involvement, it does suggest that civic education becomes more impactful when students actively participate, ask questions, examine evidence, and grasp how participation works in practice. This understanding should extend beyond national elections. Public decisions are also made through local bodies like school boards, city councils, state legislatures, Congress, government agencies, courts, and ballot processes. Educators and policymakers should help students understand these various institutions, making civic participation feel more accessible and less abstract. Ultimately, civic education cannot resolve the deep-rooted causes of political polarization. The complexities of division are too vast for a single solution. However, by enhancing people's understanding of the institutions, processes, and information behind political debates, civic education can tackle a more practical aspect of the problem. Educators and policymakers should evaluate progress not by whether students agree on political matters, but by whether they grasp which institution handles a particular issue, can interpret primary sources, differentiate between levels of government, fairly weigh competing arguments, and identify legitimate avenues for participation. A thriving democracy does not demand uniformity in opinion. Instead, it requires citizens to possess enough knowledge about the system to comprehend the issues at hand, recognize where decisions are made, and engage appropriately. Adrian Menard, founder of Legislative Labs, offers insight into tools designed to assist individuals in understanding state legislation and civic processes. The insights presented in this article represent the author's perspective.",
  "summary": "Better civic education can help Americans weigh evidence and find ways to shape our public life, says Adrian Menard.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}