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SALT LAKE CITY — Judge Judy is known for her sassy personality, cutting remarks and no-nonsense attitude, but a new poll revealed she's also recognized by many as holding one of the highest seats in the land.

That's right — 10 percent of college graduates seem to identify the famous lawyer and TV personality — Judith Sheindlin — as a member of the Supreme Court. That troubling revelation comes from a recently released report compiled by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

The results are based on a poll conducted last year of about 1,000 recent college graduates in the U.S. In addition to the 10 percent who incorrectly identified Judge Judy as a member of SCOTUS — her show portrays her handing down judgement in a courtroom, but it's most definitely not the Supreme Court — just 28 percent were able to identify James Madison as the father of the Constitution.

A whopping 59 percent identified Thomas Jefferson as the filler of that role, though he wasn't even present at the Constitutional Convention.

More than half of the college graduates surveyed could not correctly identify the process for amending the Constitution, while nearly 40 percent were unaware that Congress has the power to declare war.

Half of the grads incorrectly guessed questions related to Congressional term lengths — just as a refresher, members of the Senate are elected to six-year terms while representatives serve for two years.

Less than half of respondents knew that the U.S. Senate tries presidential impeachments, according to the poll.

Because all Supreme Court cases have to do with late rent checks and dog custody. https://t.co/lLDM67R8zW Legitamately #scared. #JudgeJudy — Maria Wiles (@mkatwiles) January 20, 2016

'Crisis in civic education' getting worse

It appears this "crisis in American civic education" is just getting worse. Older respondents did significantly better on the poll, while younger grads struggled more noticeably.

Take taxes, for example. Nearly all college graduates over the age of 65 — 98 percent, to be exact — were aware the president cannot establish taxes. But only 73 percent of their younger counterparts — ages 25 to 34 — knew the right answer on that issue.

Curriculum problem?

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So how exactly are American universities failing students so badly? Those behind the report believe the problem lies with the actual curriculum being offered.

"Too many colleges and universities confuse community service and student activism with civic education," study authors write. "Service learning and political engagement form a wholesome part of the development of character and, when judiciously chosen, lead to civic virtue. But without coursework in American history and government, such activities achieve little of substance."

Potential solutions

The council points to several potential solutions in its report, the most important being the need for every college and university to require a course on American history and government, and to abolish the idea that freshmen come to school with a sufficient understanding of these topics.

"Our civic values will fail unless they are constantly renewed through an education that prepares each generation to participate in a democratic republic and to understand the struggles, past and present, that sustain our liberty," study authors wrote.

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