New Citizenship exam - can YOU pass it?

[mzteris]

1. Name one important idea found in the Declaration of Independence.
2. What is the supreme law of the land?
3. What does the Constitution do?
4. What does “We the People” mean in the Constitution?
5. What do we call changes to the Constitution?
6. What is an amendment?
7. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
8. Name one right or freedom from the First Amendment.
9. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
10. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
11. What does freedom of religion mean?
12. What type of economic system does the U.S. have?
13. What are the three branches or parts of the government?
14. Name one branch or part of the government.
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
16. Who makes federal laws?
17. What are the two parts of the United States Congress?
18. How many United States Senators are there?
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
20. Name your state’s two U.S. Senators.
21. How many U.S. Senators does each state have?
22. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
23. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
24. Name your U.S. Representative.
25. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
26. Who does a U.S. Representative represent?
27. What decides each state’s number of U.S. Representatives?
28. How is each state’s number of Representatives decided?
29. Why do we have three branches of government?
30. Name one example of checks and balances.
31. We elect a President for how many years?
32. How old must a President be?
33. The President must be born in what country?
34. Who is the President now?
35. What is the name of the President of the United States?
36. Who is the Vice President now?
37. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States?
38. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
39. Who becomes President if both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve?
40. Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the military?
41. How many full terms can a President serve?
42. Who signs bills to become laws?
43. Who vetoes bills?
44. What is a veto?
45. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
46. Name two Cabinet-level positions.
47. What Cabinet-level agency advises the President on foreign policy?
48. What does the judicial branch do?
49. Who confirms Supreme Court justices?
50. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
51. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
52. Who nominates justices to the Supreme Court?
53. Name one thing only the federal government can do.
54. What is one thing only a state government can do?
55. What does it mean that the U.S. Constitution is a constitution of limited powers?
56. Who is the Governor of your state?
57. What is the capital (or capital city) of your state?
58. What are the two major political parties in the U.S. today?
59. What is the highest court in the U.S.?
60. What is the majority political party in the House of Representatives now?
61. What is the political party of the majority in the Senate now?
62. What is the political party of the President now?
63. Who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
64. Who is the Senate Majority Leader now?
65. In what month are elections held in the United States?
66. What is the current minimum wage in the U.S.?
67. When must all males register for the Selective Service?
68. Who is the Secretary of State now?
69. Who is the Attorney General now?
70. Is the current President in his first or second term?
71. What is self-government?
72. Who governs the people in a self-governed country?
73. What is the “rule of law”?
74. What are “inalienable rights”?
75. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
76. Name one responsibility that is only for United States citizens.
77. Name two rights that are only for United States citizens.
78. Name two rights of everyone living in the U.S.
79. What is the Pledge of Allegiance?
80. Name one promise you make when you say the Oath of Allegiance.
81. Who can vote in the U.S.?
82. Name two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy.
83. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
84. Name two of the natural, or inalienable, rights in the Declaration of Independence.
85. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
86. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
87. Name one reason why the colonists came to America?
88. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
89. Why did the colonists fight the British?
90. When was the Constitution drafted?
91. There are 13 original states. Name three.
92. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
93. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
94. Where did most of America’s colonists come from before the Revolution?
95. Why were the colonists upset with the British government?
96. Name one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for.
97. Name one famous battle from the Revolutionary War.
98. Who is called the “Father of Our Country”?
99. Who was the first President?
100. Name one of the writers of the Federalist Papers?
101. What group of essays supported passage of the U.S. Constitution?
102. Name one of the major American Indian tribes in the United States.
103. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
104. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
105. What country sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States?
106. In 1803, the United States bought a large amount of land from France. Where was that land?
107. Name one of the things that Abraham Lincoln did.
108. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
109. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
110. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
111. What did the abolitionists try to end before the Civil War?
112. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
113. Name one war fought in the United States in the 1900s.
114. Who was President during World War I?
115. The United States fought Japan, Germany, and Italy during which war?
116. What was the main concern of the United States during the Cold War?
117. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
118. What international organization was established after World War II (WWII) to keep the world at peace?
119. What alliance of North America and European countries was created during the Cold War?
120. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
121. Which U.S. World War II general later became President?
122. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
123. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream for America. What was his dream?
124. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
125. What is the longest river in the United States?
126. What ocean is on the west coast of the United States?
127. What country is on the northern border of the United States?
128. Where is the Grand Canyon?
129. Where is the Statue of Liberty?
130. What country is on the southern border of the United States?
131. Name one large mountain range in the United States.
132. What is the tallest mountain in the United States?
133. Name one U.S. territory.
134. Name the state that is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
135. Name one state that borders Canada.
136. Name one state that borders on Mexico.
137. What is the capital of the U.S.?
138. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
139. Why do we have 13 stripes on the flag?
140. Why does the flag have 50 stars?
141. What is the name of the National Anthem?
142. On the Fourth of July we celebrate independence from what country?
143. When do we celebrate Independence Day?
144. Name two national U.S. holidays.



- Answers found here -
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=dcf5e1df53b2f010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD

[marmar]

1. I bet that most of the "Gawd and Amurka" right wingers who'd applaud such an exam...

would get a big fat "F" on this test.

[lapfog_1]

2. Do they want the truth or the civics book answers?

For example, number 25 and 26... mostly corporations, lobbyists, and narrow idealogical single issue NGOs.

[HereSince1628]

3. This is worthless, it doesn't ask about the infield fly rule, let alone

how a strike zone is determined.

And it doesn't ask which football penalties apply to the spot of the infraction.


Don't we expect these people to be functional in our society????????


:crazy:

[hwmnbn]

4. I say EVERYONE should have to take the exam......

every 6-8 years, like renewing your driver's license. This is your citizenship license.

I would wager dems would outscore freepers 10 to 1. That way our votes would insure that the smart people run the ship.

[PVnRT]

5. Citizenship license?

Maybe we could have papers to present to the Committee of Public Safety enforcement officers when we want to cross state lines, too.

[Hawkowl]

6. Presidential Exam

I say that all Presidential candidates and sitting presidents must take this test IMMEDIATELY. If they can't pass they must resign!

[mzteris]

10. That's one way to get rid of

the pretender pResident!

[YOY]

7. As a matter of fact I could

And am coaching a few immigrants for it right now. Including my wife.

[Hawkeye-X]

8. I'd answer #35 and #36

Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.

Twice.

I refuse to recognize the current Chimpeleon, Shrub A. Whistleass, for I spit on his true and cursed name.

#36 & #37

Joseph I. Lieberman (yeah yeah I know, but remember who Gore's running mate was?)

#40 (again)

Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.

[Mad_Dem_X]

38. Those were my answers, too n/t

[mzteris]

9. What? NO TAKERS?

Really, folks - let's see how you do.


No - you don't have to post your answers, or how well you did, but - did you know all of them? Most of them? Some of them?

I admit I knew "most" of them, but then again, I've been hs'ing my son for the past 5 years and we did early American History just a couple of years ago. If not for that, I'm not sure how many of them I would've remembered from my old school days.

They don't teach Civics in schools anymore, do they?. How many Americans KNOW this, really?

The comment about "everyone should take it" - well - I don't agree that we need "citizenship licenses" (I think he was joking. . . ) but shouldn't everyone KNOW this stuff?

[Hawkeye-X]

11. I glanced at it

Thought about providing the two answers. The Freeper version and the Liberal version.

If noone has a objection and has put down the cat and the coffee, I might just do it.

[evilgenius602]

21. the only one I didn't know was the number of constitutional amendments and my guess was 23

[Zodiak]

23. I know them all

My years in the Boy Scouts, the high-school debate team, and my high-school civics Constitution team covered everything there and drove it into my head (remember when education in this country was effective?...I'm 35). The last six years of blogging have driven it even further, and I admit I still have a lot to learn.

Now that I think about it, I was raised to be a super-freep...a flag-waving, thick-headed, blowhard of freedom and the American way. The funny thing is...with all that learning and flag-waving came the realization that the ones who stand for all of those things are a thin minority of Democrats. The Republicans stand to undo as many of those things as possible while hiding behind the imagery, but not the principles, of this country.

Some of those questions are rather sad to me, particularly the ones about 2 rights citizens and non-citizen residents have. Those rights are greatly reduced in the WOT. The checks and balances question leaves a hollow feelings, as well.

I think I shall save these questions to pull on some belligerent family members when they get all Bill O'Reilly on me.

[Goblinmonger]

29. Wisconsin requires civics to graduate

It would be a state-by-state thang.

[mzteris]

31. I'm new to WI -

I didn't know that.

[Goblinmonger]

32. I teach in the English department

but I believe that is what the social studies' teachers said when we redid graduation credit requirements for our school.

[Solo_in_MD]

43. MD used to

was a real PITA when people moved into the state and their kids were seniors

[justice1]

41. It's easy

Even if you don't know the answers they often appear in the following question. Look at 19 and 20 for an example.

[acmavm]

12. I just went through you test. Why in the world would you

assume that people here couldn't pass this test. It is basic high school civics class information.

And if you've voted in the past election, you know the name of your current reps.

It's pretty damn condescending to assume that people here couldn't pass this test.

[mzteris]

17. Sorry if I seem condescending -

but I really don't believe the vast majority of "natural born citizens" in this Country *COULD* pass it.

BTW - I don't think they TEACH Civics anymore.

[Bjornsdotter]

22. They do

...but it's called American Government at my kid's school. One took it AP and one honors, everyone in my house would know most of the answers.

Yes, I agree....many people couldn't pass it and it is a shame,

Cheers

[acmavm]

33. Okay, American government. Call it whatever you want.

[karlrschneider]

40. I'll give you big odds on a wager! Print out the questions

or even half of them. Find some volunteers next time you go to the grocery store and ask away. For every person you find who can get 50% or more, I'll give you 5 dollars if you'll give me 1 buck for
every one who scores less than 25%. I'll trust you on the results. :D

[jannyk]

13. Yes, I could. But only because I had to take the old

one 5 years ago. Many of the government structure questions are similar - just re-worded. The geographical ones are new but I can answer those. It was common knowledge that even the old/existing test could be passed by very few 'mericans without much study.

I like this one better.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. 2 comments. There are a lot of duplicate questions there. And, I had great fun

answering them according to American civics class and then again, based on the reality of the last six years.

[mitchleary]

15. What is veto?

I feel like I am in Monty Python's Holy Grail, when I ask, regular or pocket? Then I watch the troll jump into the gorge.

[jeff30997]

16. When do we celebrate Independence Day?

Only when Bill Pullman is President and aliens attack.

[Burma Jones]

18. They Short Ben Franklin

96. Name one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for.

A: U.S. diplomat
A: Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
A: First Postmaster General of the United States
A: Writer of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”


I would add Scientist and Inventor, he was our first famous wacko genius and my favorite FF

[mzteris]

24. you're right.

I wonder why they left that out. (Or that he was a notorious womanizer! :P )

[Solon]

27. He's my favorite too, a Party Animal and night owl, along with ladies man...

He never did follow his own advice: "Early to Bed, Early to Rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." When he was in France, where he is probably a little more popular than here, he used to finally go home(when he didn't spend the night elsewhere), in the wee hours of the morning after a night of drinking heavily and wooing the ladies. He was cool. :)

[evilgenius602]

19. 109. Name one problem that led to the Civil War

Southerners are stupid barbarians!...just a joke

[mzteris]

25. hey now!

For a newbie - you shore are steppin' on a few toes! Careful, now.

Welcome to DU - I'll even forgive you your "joke" - as I was "born and raised" a Southerner.

Fortunately, I was able to overcome a lot of my Southern upbringing.

[evilgenius602]

36. hey look, i know i'm a citified falafel eating fat assed knowitall...

Im not sensitive about it...heehee. I only appear to be a newbie; i was out of the coutry for a year and for the life of me i cant remember my screen name...

[mzteris]

45. lol - well welcome back, then! n/t

[grizmaster]

20. missed two

I can never remember how many amendments there are, and I screw up the date for the signing of the Constitution.


Does this mean I get to stay?

[mzteris]

26. heck yeah -

You did very well!

I wonder how the guys on that other site would fare with this?

[Solon]

28. What the fuck is with the repeats?

138. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
139. Why do we have 13 stripes on the flag?

These two questions ask the EXACT same thing, just worded differently. :wtf:

Are there any other repeats in there, these two just seemed obvious because they were consecutive, are there more? My eyes kinda glazed over about halfway through the questions.

[mzteris]

30. because this is a pilot test

they're seeing which questions "work better" - wording - especially for ESL speakers can be a deal breaker.

The subject verb order doesn't necessarily translate well.

[Solon]

37. A trial run then, I can understand that...

Though, I wonder how useful it can be, the subject-verb order is important, but I wonder if they could tailor it for different language groups. Some languages vary greatly in how they order such words, either spoken or written. So one sentence may work for one group, for example the "Romance" languages, i.e. Spanish, French, Italian, etc., while another sentence may be understood better by those raised in Semitic languages like Hebrew or Arabic.

Then again, I'm of the school of thought where, if its easier, why not just put the test in the particular person's native language? Someone who has a passing knowledge of English, can get by, but isn't exactly completely fluent, may be confused by the test as is. Hell, half the time, NATIVE English speakers are confused, too many damned rules, too many damned exceptions to those rules. :)

[xxqqqzme]

44. that's like qestions 5 & 6

5. What do we call changes to the Constitution? - amendments
6. What is an amendment? a change in the Constitution

[Zodiak]

34. I spread this list to my blog, as well

Hope you do not mind.

I prefaced it with this:
-----------------------------------------
"Are you patriotic?"
-----------------------------------------

That is a big question, isn't it? The right-wing punditry believes that liberals and other Democrats on the left are not patriotic because we are against the Iraq war (as if killing Americans for no reason and losing hundreds of billions of dollars is a good thing). Is that what it takes? Blind allegiance and hatred of a country thousands of miles away that never did a thing to us?

I think not. I think that to be patriotic, you must care about this country. You must care about it so much that you watch it closely and put it on track if it even strays a tiny bit. It is like a child that sometimes wanders off and gets in trouble, but constant care and vigilance minimizes the damage. Blind allegiance is not vigilance...blind allegiance is letting the kid lead you everywhere, burning its hands on stoves, running out in front of cars, and falling down stairs. What kind of caring person would allow that?

Thomas Jefferson is practically the intellectual Godfather of this country. He wrote the principles on which this nation was founded in the Declaration of Independence. When asked about the results of the Constitutional Convention he said that the new government was "a republic...if you can keep it." And what did he say is needed to "keep" our Republic? A free press and an informed citizenry. There it is...patriotism in a nutshell by one of our greatest founding fathers.

So let's try a little exercise in how much of a patriot you are in Jefferson's eyes. This is the latest test for American citizenship put out by our government. Every foreign national who yearns to be free must pass this test (well, the final version of it, anyway; this is a pilot test). Can you, as a native-born American, pass this test? If you cannot, then I suggest that you spend a little time learning these things. You are not to blame...between the reduction of civics classes in school and the dumbing down by corporate media, Americans are not well-informed of how their government works. This, of course, serves the interests of those who want to keep us voting for them without critical thought.

The government has meandered far off of its path in the last six years...only a caring, informed citizenry can get it back on course. This isn't a be-all and end-all test, but it should give you an idea of how much basic knowledge you have about your government and your country.

------------------------------------------

I have a few people who read my blog; some of which are right-leaning friends and family members.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=70527736

[mzteris]

46. It's a free country! :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

The test was in the public domain - I just took the answers out to see if anyone was up to the challenge.

I think it's a great teaching tool - especially for those who "don't get it!"

[rep the dems]

35. Not sure how many you have to get right, but I'm pretty sure I'd

get almost all correct.

[mzteris]

47. did you test yourself?

That's the only way to really know, ya know.

Of course I'm biased and think that DU'ers are probably a bit more knowledgeable than the average person. :)

[karlrschneider]

39. I didn't see any that I couldn't answer but then I'm a fart smeller.

:D

[Mass]

42. This is not that hard. The INS agent asks 10 of these questions and the person seeking citizenship

has to have 6 right (from the rules listed in the OP link).

Except if you are asked for the 10 most difficult questions (there were a couple I did not know the answer off-hand), it is probably hard to miss 4 questions if you make an effort.

[JohnLocke]

48. Few answers

1. Name one important idea found in the Declaration of Independence.

--Inalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
--Our rights come "not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God" (JFK's paraphrase)
--Right to revolution "whenever any government becomes destructive of these ends"

2. What is the supreme law of the land?

--The Constitution of the United States

3. What does the Constitution do?

--Establishes institutions of government; power and structure of Congress, the president, and the federal courts
--Establishes relationship between states and federal government
--Establishes power prohibited to the branches of government
--Defines treason, miscellania

4. What does “We the People” mean in the Constitution?

--These words in the Preamble mean that the Constitution is established on behalf of all Americans.

5. What do we call changes to the Constitution?

Constitutional amendments (or, to the Bushes, executive power :eyes:)

6. What is an amendment?

A change to the constitution, proposed by Congress and ratified by the states or by constitutional convention.

7. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights

8. Name one right or freedom from the First Amendment.

To petition the government for redress of griveances

9. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

27.

10. What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Declared the independence of the 13 colonies from Britain.

11. What does freedom of religion mean?

Freedom to practice one's religion so long as that practice does not interfere with the rights of others; freedom to hold any religion or no religion; freedom from an established religion

12. What type of economic system does the U.S. have?

Free market

13. What are the three branches or parts of the government?

Legislative, executive, judicial

14. Name one branch or part of the government.

Legislative

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

The president of the United States

(or Dick Cheney :eyes:)

16. Who makes federal laws?

Both houses of Congress pass bills by simple majority; they are signed into law by the president

17. What are the two parts of the United States Congress?

The House of Representatives and the Senate.

18. How many United States Senators are there?

100.

19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

6.

20. Name your state’s two U.S. Senators.

Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez.

21. How many U.S. Senators does each state have?

2.

22. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

435.

23. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

2.

24. Name your U.S. Representative.

Vacant.

25. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

The citizens of the state that elected him/her.

26. Who does a U.S. Representative represent?

The citizens of the congressional district that elected him/her.

27. What decides each state’s number of U.S. Representatives?

The Census, conducted every 10 years, establishes the population, from which the number of Representatives in the House is derived.

28. How is each state’s number of Representatives decided?

The Census, conducted every 10 years, establishes the population, from which the number of Representatives in the House is derived.

29. Why do we have three branches of government?

Separation of powers.

30. Name one example of checks and balances.

Congress has the ability to impeach federal constitutional officers (such as the President) and federal judges.

31. We elect a President for how many years?

4.

32. How old must a President be?

35.

33. The President must be born in what country?

The United States.

34. Who is the President now?

George W. Bush.

35. What is the name of the President of the United States?

George W. Bush.

36. Who is the Vice President now?

Dick Cheney.

37. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States?

Dick Cheney.

38. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

The Vice President.

39. Who becomes President if both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve?

The Speaker of the House.

40. Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the military?

The President.

41. How many full terms can a President serve?

Two.

42. Who signs bills to become laws?

The President.

43. Who vetoes bills?

The President.

44. What is a veto?

A rejection of a bill passed by Congress by the president; Congress may override a veto by a two-thirds supermajority of both houses.

45. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

--Advises the president
--Oversees executive departments
--Regulatory executive authority subordinate to the President

46. Name two Cabinet-level positions.

Secretary of State
Attorney General

47. What Cabinet-level agency advises the President on foreign policy?

Department of States

48. What does the judicial branch do?

--Operates criminal justice system
--Provides civil remedies
--Decides on the contitutionality of challenged government laws or acts

49. Who confirms Supreme Court justices?

The Senate.

50. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?

Samuel Alito.

51. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

9.

52. Who nominates justices to the Supreme Court?

The President.

53. Name one thing only the federal government can do.

Operate the Postal Service.

54. What is one thing only a state government can do?

Redraw congressional districts.

55. What does it mean that the U.S. Constitution is a constitution of limited powers?

It limits the powers of government.

56. Who is the Governor of your state?

Jeb Bush. (Alas.)

57. What is the capital (or capital city) of your state?

Tallahassee.

58. What are the two major political parties in the U.S. today?

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

59. What is the highest court in the U.S.?

The Supreme Court of the United States.

60. What is the majority political party in the House of Representatives now?

The Republicans (until January! :kick:)

61. What is the political party of the majority in the Senate now?

The Republicans (until January! :kick:)

62. What is the political party of the President now?

The Republicans

63. Who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

Dennis Hastert (in January Nancy Pelosi :kick:)

64. Who is the Senate Majority Leader now?

Bill Frist (in January Harry Reid :kick:)

65. In what month are elections held in the United States?

November.

66. What is the current minimum wage in the U.S.?

$5.15 at the federal level (until January, I hope :kick:)

67. When must all males register for the Selective Service?

Age 18.

68. Who is the Secretary of State now?

Condoleezza Rice.

69. Who is the Attorney General now?

Alberto Gonzalez.

70. Is the current President in his first or second term?

Second term (first elected/ term! :kick:)

71. What is self-government?

Rule independently of foreign or autocratic power.

72. Who governs the people in a self-governed country?

The people.

73. What is the “rule of law”?

Justice based on universal laws and principles, not on political whims.

74. What are “inalienable rights”?

Rights that cannot be legitimately violated by the governmen--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

75. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

The 15th Amendment established that the right to vote cannot be infringed based on race or prior condition of servitude.

76. Name one responsibility that is only for United States citizens.

--To vote.

77. Name two rights that are only for United States citizens.

--To vote.
--To stand as a candidate for election to federal office.

78. Name two rights of everyone living in the U.S.

--To be free from arbitrary arrest and indefinite detention.
--To be free from cruel and unusual punishment, excessive fines, etc.

79. What is the Pledge of Allegiance?

Rather useless statement of allegiance to American principles of liberty and justice, written by a socialist in the late 19th century.

80. Name one promise you make when you say the Oath of Allegiance.

To absolve allegiance to all foreign powers.

81. Who can vote in the U.S.?

Citizens.

(Too tired to complete the test)

[mzteris]

49. You showed more perseverance than

most! :)

It IS rather longish, isn't it?

[AZBlue]

50. Are these multiple choice? If not, no wonder it takes so damn long to become a citizen.

We need more test readers!