Ask the typical military member to name the five branches of the armed forces, the answer comes faster than a locomotive. But the same can't be said for the average American's understanding of the three branches of government, as a new survey suggests that adults aren't all aboard the civics train.

Slightly more than 1 in 4 individuals – 26 percent – can name the triumvirate of branches that are stated in the U.S. Constitution, the Annenberg Policy Center reported from its findings, those being the legislative, executive and judicial. That's down from nearly 40 percent who could identify them five years ago when a similar question was put to respondents.

Many unfamiliar with VP nominees Kaine, Pence
Participants were similarly nonplussed as it pertained to the 2016 run for the White House. While most were well aware of who the Democrats and Republicans nominated for their respective parties, few knew who were the presidential hopefuls VP picks. Just 37 percent correctly identified former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as Donald Trump's running mate, and a mere 22 percent cited former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

Kathleen Hall Jaimeson, University of Pennsylvania's  Annenberg Public Policy Center director, indicated that Americans' unawareness is an indictment on the country's education system.

"Those unfamiliar with our three branches of government can't understand the importance of checks and balances and an independent judiciary," Jaimeson explained. "Lack of basic civics knowledge is worrisome and an argument for an increased focus on civics education in the schools."

More Americans don't know the branches that comprise the government, as stated in the U.S. Constitution.

Given that only a quarter of Americans are able to identify the three branches of government, it may come as no surprise that a relative few were clued into what each had the authority to do, afforded to them by the framers of the U.S. Constitution. For example, less than 40 percent understood that the President of the United States had the jurisdiction to make a formal declaration of war, the report found. At 53 percent, a slight majority understood the U.S. Congress was imbued with this capability as well.

Nearly 80 percent know about establishment clause
Where respondents demonstrated a better understanding was with their First Amendment rights. Over three-quarters – 77 percent – recognized that the U.S. Constitution prohibited federal lawmakers from establishing a religion, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reported from its findings. However, 10 percent believed that Congress could legally abolish atheism, the theory being that the country was founded on a Judeo-Christian philosophy.

The First Amendment is the fundamental pillar of the Bill of Rights, which represent the initial 10 amendments in the Constitution. With Constitution Day recently passed – falling on Sept. 17 – it's clear that many Americans could use a refresher course on one of the country's founding documents. Over 1 in 10 – 12 percent – of Americans incorrectly thinks that the Bill of Rights references citizens' fundamental right to be a pet owner, a separate poll also done last year by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found.

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America's homeland, protected by the U.S. military, isn't the only port in the storm that needs protection. So too does its vast internet network, which has never been more advanced or widely available – to the point of making it easier for hackers to raise havoc. But thanks to a new program offered by the University of Delaware, members of the U.S. Army can participate in another line of work that calls for their unparalleled security expertise.

Announced in July, employees of the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, located on the campus of the University of Delaware, can obtain graduate-level certification establishing their proficiency in cybersecurity.

Who should take advantage?
Because the program is graduate-level, the course is more advanced, thus is recommended for those who have backgrounds in engineering or cyber technology, the UDaily reported. The class is tailor made for engineers and scientists who participate in the University of Delaware's Aberdeen Proving Ground, military personnel and contractors included.

As with many other course curriculum, the graduate-level cybersecurity program builds on itself and breaks down into three emphases. In the beginning, students will learn about the some of the basics of cybersecurity, which includes how to increase confidentiality through cryptography and other user protection methods. The instruction will then venture into techniques that harden systems through various defensive techniques so PCs are less penetrable. The third and final phase touches on some of the strategies cyberattackers use to gain access and how to identify them, including phishing, malware, ransomware and email spam.

The class will teach students about the different ways cyber criminals attack vulnerable networks and computer systems.

Shepherding students through the cybersecurity class, which runs for a full semester, will be Chase Cotton, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Delaware. Professor Cotton will partner with fellow colleague and professor of engineering Haining Wang.

"Because of Professor Cotton, I was able to overcome my insecurities on something that I knew nothing about and feel totally confident at the end," Steve Wisniewski, CERDEC software engineer, told UDaily. "Because of his help, I was able to do well on the final exam."

The University of Delaware has one of the most renowned computer engineering and software security programs in the country, named a "National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education both by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency, according to UDaily.

71 percent of SMBs hit by online attack since 2014
Cyber security breaches have become increasingly common, making experts in the field indispensable. Nearly 3 in 4 small and medium-sized businesses in the last two years were compromised by at least one hacking attempt, Osterman Research found in a poll commissioned by software and data system protection firm CYREN.

The invasions have even affected automobiles, as many of today's vehicles have internet capability, making for added convenience. A whopping 85 percent of automakers say that they've been adversely affected by cybercrime in the last two years, according to a survey done by tax and advisory services firm KPMG. The same poll found that if consumers were aware that auto manufacturers had been hit with a security breach, 80 percent would be hesitant or never buy a model built by the nameplate.

The Federal Trade Commission has gone so far as to warn rental car users to be wary about using connected features found in their rented vehicles. When mobile devices are paired with the vehicle's, personal information can be accessed by would-be cyber criminals.

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Though it's always sad to see the warm summer go, the cooler weather ushers in football season, undeniably one of the best times on the sporting calendar. Over nearly five full months, pigskin aficionados – on Mondays, Sundays and Thursdays – take to their TV rooms for some hard-hitting gridiron action.

Football is the ideal sporting event for television. The action moves from side to side, up-to-date in-game statistics are there to be seen and the running commentary from announcers and former players provides insight and analysis into the on-field matchup. Sometimes, though, there's nothing quite like going to the game to experience the electricity in the air and the roar of the crowd.

The only problem is that an NFL game is not exactly a drop in the bucket, especially when you add parking and refreshments expenses to the mix. However, if you're stationed in the Midwest and would like to go to a game without breaking the bank, affordability isn't a Hail Mary after all.

Lower prices are a run to the end zone in Ohio
According to newly released data from GOBankingRates.com, Paul Brown Stadium and First Energy Stadium, the respective homes of the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, are the least expensive places to get the full fan experience.

The personal finance and consumer banking information firm came to this conclusion after taking several game day expenses into account, including the cost of two tickets, hot dogs, beers, soft drinks and parking. The Ohio football parks were the runaway favorites, followed by Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York; Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri and EverBank Field in Jacksonville. All of these stadiums are the host locations for teams that play in the AFC. In fact, only three on the top 10 least expensive list – the Tampa Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium, Arizona Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium and the Detroit Lions' Ford Field – are in the NFC.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are those fields that put the "extra" in extra expensive. Nowhere will you spend more on tickets, parking and refreshments than in the nation's capital city of Washington, FedEx Field, where the Redskins play, the study found. Second to the Skins is Levi's Stadium where the San Francisco 49ers play and the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium. However, exclusively for admission, MetLife Stadium will set you back the most, costing an average of $94.33 per ticket. 

"Going to a football game on a Sunday is the equivalent of going to church for some fans," said Kristen Bonner lead researcher for the GoBankingRates study. "The cost of these games, however, is something that fans have to think about and, in some cases, budget for in advance."

Tailgating adds to the stadium experience, which often happens both before and after the game.

Tailgaters spend an average of $500 per season
All this doesn't include tailgating, which has come to be a Sunday staple for stadium goers. According to the Tailgating Industry Association, football fans will spend an estimated $20 billion combined this year solely on food and supplies. In fact, more than 40 percent of tailgaters dole out $500 for tailgating expenses per season. It's estimated that roughly half – 46 percent – of football fans tailgate between six and 10 times each year, typically during the early portion of the season when the weather is warmer, based on polling data conducted by RetailMeNot.

No matter with who your fan allegiances lie – and wherever your team plays between the hash marks – here's to another exciting NFL season that's fun for the whole family, whether at the game or on the sofa.

Are you ready for some football?

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