"Do I care whether Americans can spout back the history of the Great Compromise or the parable of the Cup and Saucer to explain the wisdom of our bicameral legislature? Nope. But I do care that they don’t seem to understand that we have 50 states, each of which have varying local interests, and that our system is designed to give voice to them. The failure to understand this fundamental point makes powerful the assertion by presidents that Congress refusing to go along with their policy preferences somehow constitutes unpatriotic behavior because they have a duty to “work in the best interests of America” when that notion is contrary to the very spirit of our system."
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/what-should-americans-know-about-american-government/
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/what-should-americans-know-about-american-government/