If you're scratching your head, you're not alone. A recent survey shows that, even in an election year, many Americans are still fuzzy on some basic civics concepts.

The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey to celebrate Constitution Day on Sept. 17, offers a fascinating glimpse into what Americans know (and don't know) about their government and constitutional rights.

First, the positive: nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) can correctly name all three branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. It means most people understand the basic structure of our government and how power is divided.

When it comes to the First Amendment, though, things get a bit murkier. While almost everyone knows about freedom of speech (74% of respondents named it), the other four rights protected by this crucial amendment are far more problematic for Americans to name. Only 39% mentioned freedom of religion, 29% noted freedom of the press, 27% recalled the right to assembly, and a mere 11% identified the right to petition the government. Surprisingly, more people incorrectly said the right to bear arms (22%) was in the First Amendment than those who correctly identified the right to petition the government.

(Pro tip: The right to bear arms is actually in the Second Amendment!)

"Civics knowledge matters. Those who do not understand the rights protected by the Constitution can neither cherish nor invoke them; those who do not know which party controls the House and Senate may misattribute credit or blame for action or inaction," says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, in a media release detailing the poll results.