A recent survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center revealed that about a third of America’s adults cannot name the three branches of the federal government, which, by the way, are the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

It is not unreasonable to believe that the names of those three branches should have been mastered by the fifth or sixth grade, if not before.

Meanwhile, it is not unreasonable to think America’s high school students, by the time they complete their senior year, should have mastered much more civics-related information, not only about the federal government, but also state and local governments.

For anyone who might have forgotten the meaning of the word “civics,” Webster’s Dictionary defines it as a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens.

It is amazing how many people among the ranks of the young and not-so-young consider themselves very knowledgeable — even experts — about politics and government when they have hardly a clue about the proverbial nuts and bolts of either, allowing themselves to be easily duped by individuals seeking election or re-election, or by individuals speaking on their behalf.

The Associated Press addressed the issue of limited knowledge about government in an article published in the Mirror’s Sept. 17 edition under the headline “Colleges seeing deficits in civics.”

Among the major and encouraging points mentioned in the article was “over the past few years, a small but growing number of states have begun requiring college students at publicly funded colleges to complete a civics requirement.”

Considering Pennsylvania’s recognized status as an election “swing state,” residents of this commonwealth ought to be seeking ways to beef up their knowledge of what government entails, so that when they go to the polls or receive their ballot in the mail, they can make their selections based on some degree of relevant factual information.

Unfortunately, like in other states, too many voters here, rather than doing their “homework” prior to voting, opt instead to vote party rather than qualifications, on the basis of perceived popularity rather than what the candidates seek to accomplish.

According to the Sept. 17 article, “civics fosters a sense of unity … and an ability to deal with disagreement. It empowers citizens, and many people believe it could help heal America’s divides. Having it in higher education means they can look at (an) issue in more sophisticated ways.”

However, the article notes, professors acknowledge not all students appreciate the forced civics learning, and that is understandable.

Each citizen who has reached voting age should open himself or herself to learning about the responsibilities of the three branches of the federal government.

Likewise, there is much to learn about state election calendars and budgeting, about redistricting, as well as topics such as gerrymandering and states’ rights.

Essential to being a citizen of this great nation is having knowledge about the contents of the constitution, as well as a sense of the things America needs most.

Yet, all of that is just the beginning in these final days leading up to the Nov. 5 election.

Don’t waste the many other opportunities that this election year also presents.