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Today's newsletter is 1,095 words — a 4-minute read.

More than a third of Americans can't name the three branches of government, per a new survey from UPenn's Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Why it matters: Political polarization has intensified, leaving many Americans increasingly uneasy about the future of democracy.

• A lack of basic knowledge around civics could deepen that divide.

Driving the news: The survey also found that fewer than half of participants could name each right protected by the First Amendment — a finding that has remained relatively stable over the past three years.

• The findings coincide with Thursday's Constitution Day, an occasion civic advocates are using to promote pro-democracy conversations.

How it works: The center last month polled more than 1,000 Americans who were at least 18 years old on the nuts and bolts of government, with a margin of error of ±3.5%.

Zoom in: The topics ranged from presidential vetoes to the Supreme Court's role in constitutional disputes.

• Most knew the basics: 83% correctly said Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.
• 60% recognized the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter of whether a president's actions are constitutional.

Yes, but: Another 17% falsely believed Congress had the final say, while 4% thought it was up to the president to decide, and 19% were unsure who made the final call.

• Only half of Americans understood a basic principle of federalism — that powers not given to the federal government are generally reserved for the states or the people.

What they're saying: "Ignorance is costly," Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Annenberg's director emerita, said in a statement. "You can't protect and cherish rights that you don't know you have."

• The results are "alarming" since they're "just testing basic factual knowledge" about the Constitution, Julie Silverbrook, the National Constitution Center's chief content and learning officer, tells Axios.

What's ahead: The center will use the nation's 250th anniversary — and milestones over the next decade — to deepen residents' civic understanding.

• On tap for Constitution Day: a scholarly panel discussion and a new experience, "Be a Civic Hero," meant to get kids excited about learning how the government works.

The bottom line: "We're in a really interesting moment" in history, Silverbrook says. "There's no reason to disband those [250th] efforts."

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Philadelphia legislators return to work this morning and could tap into the city's biggest issues this fall.

The big picture: Hanging over it all is the coming May primary, where several members on the Democratic-dominated City Council could face serious challengers.

State of play: The 17-member legislature gathers for its first autumnal legislative session today in City Hall after a monthslong summer break.

Zoom in: These are the top-line issues we're watching for:

🦕 Academy of Natural Sciences fallout: Thwarting attempts by developers to build residential units on the institution's property along the Ben Franklin Parkway by changing zoning codes to allow for only special civic and cultural purposes there.

• Councilman Jeffery Young Jr. is expected to introduce this legislation in the coming weeks.

🗑️ Trash burning: A fight over a forthcoming multi-year city contract from Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration with a Chester County waste-to-energy facility over concerns the trash is incinerated.

• Councilmembers must approve these sorts of big, multi-year contracts.
• Leading an effort to derail the potential contract over environmental concerns is Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

🐘 The elephant in the room: Legislation required for the new Sixers and Flyers arena in South Philly.

• The Sixers and Comcast Spectacor say they want to start the project by June 2027.

🔮 What they're saying: The goals for City Council this fall are up in the air as the election looms, Kyle Darby, senior president and CEO of Darby Public Strategies, a government relations firm that lobbies in City Hall, tells Axios.

• Members could go big by taking up high-profile legislation or lay low and rely on their records ahead of the primary, he said.

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🎨 Keith Haring's "We The Youth" mural in Point Breeze could receive approval next month from the city's Historical Commission, paving the way for its addition to Philly's Register of Historic Places.

• But the mural's future is uncertain over concerns about the condition of the building it's painted on — 2147-49 Ellsworth St. (WHYY)

📉 The number of weapons confiscated from students in Philly district schools fell roughly 67% from 2021-22 to 2024-25. Knives were the most common weapon found on students.

• Meanwhile, reported fights declined 22% across the district during the same period. (Chalkbeat)

🇮🇹 Italy has landed in Philly. The international touring project Italia é Moda will showcase Italian fashion, textiles, footwear, jewelry and goldsmithing through Sept. 26 at Drexel U's Main Building.

🍻 You can party like it's 1787! The First Bank of the U.S. is throwing a bash from 6-9pm tonight that will recreate the farewell event for George Washington at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention.

• Beer, mead and whiskey are on the menu, along with refreshments. Tickets: $50.

🎸 Get ready for three days of outdoor music on the Camden waterfront. Headliners for the XPoNential Music Festival include Dawes, Budos Band, Cyril Neville, Tyler Ballgame and Fat Mezz. Runs Friday-Sunday.

• Tickets: $101.55+

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Philly will bear witness to two swan songs this season: LeBron James' — and now longtime voice of the Sixers Matt Cord's.

Why it matters: Cord's unexpected U-turn from retirement adds another subplot to a Sixers season already expected to be one of the most exciting in team history.

The big picture: Cord retired this summer after spending nearly three decades as the Sixers' public address announcer.

• His excitable baritone is immediately recognizable from Sixers pregame introductions — and now Philly fans get one more season with the voice that's helped soundtrack games for a generation.

What they're saying: Cord said during a podcast appearance Tuesday that Sixers legend Allen Iverson was instrumental in convincing him to come out of retirement after he had seemingly called his last game — a playoff-ending, 50-point loss to the hated rival Knicks on Mother's Day.

• "I got the text from Allen. He's like, 'I think you got one more left in you,'" Cord said.

The bottom line: Cord gets to give James and Co. their flowers for one more season — and then, and only then, will Philly be OK giving the announcing legend his.

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Today's newsletter was edited by Jen Burkett.