CIVICS TEST: Think you know enough to become a U.S. citizen?
A rhetorical question for most of us, of course, but a test
being developed by the immigration service looks like it might be
pretty challenging for many Americans.
Starting in January, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services will introduce a pilot civics test which could be put into
place in the spring of 2008.
The immigration services has released more than 140 draft
questions, and we figured we’d toss a few out to our readers to see
how well they fare. No prize, of course, just an opportunity to
brush up on your knowledge of our country’s history and
government.
We start today and will periodically throw out question and
answers. Answers are at the bottom of the column so you might want
to cover that portion with her hand to keep from peeking.
Here we go:
1. What type of economic system does the U.S. have?
2. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
3. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
4. Who is the commander-in-chief of the military?
5. Name one thing only the federal government can do.
6. Who is the Senate Majority Leader now?
7. Name one responsibility that is only for United States
citizens.
8. When was the Constitution drafted?
9. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
10. Which U.S. World War II general later became President?
Answers:
1. Correct answers are capitalist economy; free market; or
market economy
2. Six years
3. 435 members
4. The president
5. Print money; declare war; make treaties.
6. Harry Reid* ( The answer, according to the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services’ new naturalization test, is Harry Reid,
because the test will not be implemented until 2007. The current
Majority Leader is Bill Frist.)
7. Vote; serve on a jury
8. 1787
9. Correct answer is either native Americans or American
Indians
10. Dwight Eisenhower.
OK, so how did you do? To pass the civics portion of the
naturalization test, applicants must correctly answer six of 10
selected questions.
