When immigrants want to become Americans, they must take a civics test as part of their naturalization interview before a Citizenship and Immigration Services officer. The questions are usually selected from a list of 100 sample questions that prospective citizens can look at ahead of the interview (though the examiner is not limited to those questions).
(PLEASE NOTE: These questions are as asked on the official United States Immigration and Naturalization Services Web site. Candidates are not given multiple choices in the naturalization interview, which is conducted orally.)
1. How many stripes are there on the U.S. flag?
2. Who is the chief justice of the Supreme Court today?
3. In what year was the Constitution written?
4. Which of these is guaranteed by the First Amendment?
Freedom of the press Right to bear arms Right to happiness Right to trial by jury
5. How many Supreme Court justices are there?
6. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
7. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
8. Which of the following amendments to the Constitution does NOT address or guarantee voting rights?
11. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
12. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
13. Which of the following is NOT one of the constitutional requirements to be eligible to become president?
Must be at least 35 years old by the time he/she will serve Must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States Must have served as a governor
14. Who selects the Supreme Court justices?
15. How many representatives are there in Congress?
16. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death"?
17. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
18. Who has the power to declare war?
19. What INS form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen?
20. Which of these contains three rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?
Right to life, right to liberty, right to the pursuit of happiness Freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion Right to protest, right to protection under the law, freedom of religion Freedom of religion, right to elect representatives, human rights
How about #18? Bush went to war without Congress approval. (I wish there were be more emoticons).
Instead he used a resolution that claims:"That the president is authorized to use all necessary force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
You have a good point. However, bush started an undeclared war, which, by precedent (Korea, Vietnam, and a few others), does not require a Declaration of War, which can only be issued by Congress.
In any case, that isn't the more glaring of the errors.
A hint - Most Americans, including many teachers, would get this one wrong.
Posts: 17278 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Maybe you're referring to 3. The Constitution is the Articles of Confederation plus Amendments, so the term here is incorrect. The Constitution (as a whole) was written over an extended time period and can still change with amendments. The Articles of Confederation were also written prior to the indicated date and not finished until a year later after it and then finally signed.
Posts: 509 | Location: Australia | Registered: 02-19-03
"The Constitution is the Articles of Confederation plus Amendments"
No.
The Articles of the Confederation were a separate document, one which the Constitution replaced.
I suspect DG is referring to 17. Although they left England due to religious oppression, many of them had been in Holland, with the freedom to practice their beliefs, before coming to America.
I suspect that there are 2 valid answers to #20 - the second and third choices. Freedom of assembly and equal protection under the law are both covered in the Bill of Rights.
Obviously the freedom of religion is also covered in the Bill of Rights.
Posts: 3056 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-04-02
Adi: I am certain that a president is required to have been born in the U.S. Madelyn Albright, when she served as Sec'y of State under Clinton, was not in the order of succession because she was born in Czechoslovakia.
In a recent tv interview with Albright I was surprised to hear that, for this reason, she was excluded from strategic meetings on contingency planning involving potential succession to the presidency.
Posts: 1997 | Location: U.S. | Registered: 06-03-02
Methos got it. The Pilgrims left England and went to Holland seeking religious freedom, and found it. But they weren't happy there, for several reasons. As a group, like any isolated group, they were aging, and their children were growing up in a foreign (to them) land. The children were beoming less "English" and more Continental (for want of a better word) or more Dutch, or, seeking employment and/or adventure, the young were leaving the nest. Basically, the English were losing their cultural identity. There were also compatability issues with the Dutch, mainly that the Pilgrims felt out of place. (It seems that the Pilgrims just couldn't get along with anyone else.) The Pilgrims wanted to live "someplace English." The whole "Seeking religious freedom, they came to America" is not only false, but almost the opposite of the truth. Note that one of the first thing they did when landing in America is pass religious laws, punishing those who didn't attend the "official" church, or violated church law. The stocks, banishment, and death became punishment for violation religious law.
From the Mayflower Compact -
Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. (Bold mine - DG)
You can be certain that there was only one version of the "Christian Faith" that was acceptable. -------- Regarding Question 13 -
Which of the following is NOT one of the constitutional requirements to be eligible to become president?
Must be at least 35 years old by the time he/she will serve Must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States Must have served as a governor
Constitution of the United States: Article II, Section 1; No. 4. No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.
Regarding question 20 -
I should have separated the choices.
Right to life, right to liberty, right to the pursuit of happiness
Freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion
Right to protest, right to protection under the law, freedom of religion
Freedom of religion, right to elect representatives, human rights
Explanation:
Choice 1 includes "pursuit of happiness", something not in the Bill of Rights.
Choice 2 is the best answer. The First Amendment states " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." That clearly covers all three parts of Choise 2.
Choice 3 includes "right to protection under the law", somehing not really mentioned, although certainly an argument could be made that the total of several of these amendments make up a type of "protection under the law."
Choice 4 contains "human rights", something most definitely not specified in the Bill of Rights. -------- Something to remember is that those taking this test as a requirement for citizenship do not take a multiple-choice test. If asked these questions without being offered choices, I doubt that most Americans would get more than half right.
For the record, I missed #8. I went too fast and said that the 19th Amendment didn't address voting, thinking that it repealed the 18th Amendment. I was confusing it with the 21st Amendnent.
1. Forget when the Declaration of Independence was signed; tell me why it was signed? What were the signers trying to accomplish?
2. What happened to the men who signed the Declaration? Did they go on to be heroes and live happily ever after?
3. What does the Declaration of Independence say the people can do when a government becomes destructive to the ends of liberty?
4. What would happen to anyone who tried today to alter or abolish our government if it became destructive to idea that government derives its powers from the consent of the governed?
5. Which articles of the Constitution grant specific powers to the federal government?
6. Which article of the Constitution restricts the powers of the government to only those specifically set forth in the Constitution?
7. Describe the circumstances under which Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner?
8. Do you believe people living in a free country ought to be compelled to recite a pledge of allegiance to that country? Why?
9. Was the Revolutionary War supported by a majority of the Colonists?
10. Where in our Constitution is it stated that anyone has a right to vote for the office of President of the United States?
11. How did our original Constitution provide for the appointment of Senators?
12. Most foreign countries appoint an ambassador to be their official representative before the government of the United States. Who officially represents the 50 state governments before the government of the United States?
13. Explain the difference between a rule of law and the rule of man.
14. Explain the difference between a democracy and a constitutional republic.
15. Was our country founded to be a country of majority rule?
16. Can you imagine what our country would be like today if the majority did rule?
17. Aren't you glad the majority doesn't rule?
18. Why does it matter in the grand scheme of things who the governor of North Carolina is?
19. Isn't a governor something you put on a state to keep it from moving ahead very fast?
20. What possible benefit could you gain by memorizing the motto of the State of North Carolina, or any other state for that matter?
21. How many times can the word "democracy" found in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution?
22. How many times can the word "democracy" found in the constitutions of any of the 50 states?
23. What does this tell you?
24. Define "civil war."
25. Was the war between the northern and southern states in the mid-1800s a civil war?
26. Who is third in the line of succession to the presidency?
27. Based on your answer to the foregoing question, would you demand that George Bush and Dick Cheney never eat from the same container of potato salad should the Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives in the next election?
28. How did the political class manage to fool the people of the United States into supporting a Constitutional Amendment creating an income tax?
29. How do most people get their news on a daily bass?
30. Does the "freedom of press" clause in the First Amendment apply to the broadcast media?
31. So, do most people get their news from agencies licensed to operate by the federal government?
32. Why were the words "under God" placed into the Pledge of Allegiance?
33. Do you think that it is proper for the federal government to compel students attending government schools under compulsory attendance laws to acknowledge the role of God in the formation of our country? Would this constitute "effecting an establishment of religion?" If not, why not?
34. Do Americans derive their basic rights from the Constitution?
35. If we don't derive our rights from the Constitution, just why was the Bill of Rights added anyway?
36. Define a system of government where the means of production are owned and controlled privately.
37. Define a system of government where the means of production are privately owned but controlled by government.
38. Define a system of government where the means of production are owned and controlled by the government.
39. What percentage of total income is earned by the top one percent of income earners.
40. What percentage of total income taxes collected by the federal government is paid by the top one percent of income earners.
41. Where in our Constitution does it specifically state that only U.S. citizens may vote for the office of President of the United States?
42. Name one right that a state government can exercise without interference from the federal level.
43. Where in our Constitution does it specifically state that only U.S. citizens may vote for members of the House of Representatives?
44. Look at the Bill of Rights. List any Amendments in the Bill of Rights that were ratified for the purpose of limiting the powers of the government.
45. If our Constitution provides for equal protection under the law, why, then, does the Voting Rights Act only apply to certain states who were held in political disfavor in the 70's?
46. List any Amendments in the Bill of Rights that were ratified for the purpose of limiting the rights of individuals.
47. If the Bill of Rights was written to limit the rights of government and to guarantee certain rights in the individual, try to explain why so many people seem to think that the 2nd Amendment was written to limit the rights of individuals and guarantee the rights of government?
48. Does the First Amendment protect speech that some people might find offensive?
49. Explain how our Republic was threatened when Janet Jackson showed the world that she likes to wear a Japanese throwing star on the nipple of her left breast.
50. What is the one exclusive power our government has that no individual or business can legally exercise?
No wonder people are always coming in illegally. You mean you have to know stuff to be a citizen? Lame!!
Thanks for the links and the background information, though. Good stuff. And I'll tell you what, I might not be able to be a citizen if I had to take JohnGalt/Neal Boortz's exam! ...JG, where can I find the answers to those?
Posts: 4539 | Location: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Originally posted by Elexina: JG, where can I find the answers to those?
There is no link to the answers, as just the questions were given. And while others will no doubt disagree with me on some of these (and remarkably might even agree with me on some others!), but here are my answers for the questions:
Forget when the Declaration of Independence was signed; tell me why it was signed? What were the signers trying to accomplish? To let the King and the world know that the colonists were severing their ties with England (by force if need be) and to announce that the colonists were going to secure the rights of individuals by instituting a government which derives its powers from the consent of the governed.
What happened to the men who signed the Declaration? Did they go on to be heroes and live happily ever after? Mostly no. A quick overview can be found by clicking here.
What does the Declaration of Independence say the people can do when a government becomes destructive to the ends of liberty? It is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
What would happen to anyone who tried today to alter or abolish our government if it became destructive to idea that government derives its powers from the consent of the governed? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that the government wouldn’t like it very much and do everything in its power to stop it.
Which articles of the Constitution grant specific powers to the federal government? Article I Section 8
Which article of the Constitution restricts the powers of the government to only those specifically set forth in the Constitution? Amendment 10, Article I Section 9 & 10
Describe the circumstances under which Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner? During the War of 1812 while on a British flagship to try and secure the release of his friend Dr. William Beanes (who had been captured by the British), Key watched the British Fleet bombard Fort McHenry for 25 hours. Unable to destroy the Fort, the British Fleet eventually gave up. Key wrote down what he had witnessed and titled it "Defence of Fort McHenry." When the public read it they started calling it "The Star- Spangled Banner"
Do you believe people living in a free country ought to be compelled to recite a pledge of allegiance to that country? Why? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that since a person is being compelled, that would go against the concept of freedom.
Was the Revolutionary War supported by a majority of the Colonists? No it was not.
Where in our Constitution is it stated that anyone has a right to vote for the office of President of the United States? The Constitution does not specifically state that anyone has a right to vote for President. The 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th Amendments only say that people cannot be denied to vote based on skin color, gender, failure to pay taxes or anyone over the age of 18. But there is no specific right to vote mentioned in the Constitution. Voting is a state right, not a federal right. People will jump up and down screaming at this one, but don't blame the messenger. Instead of taking it out on me, click here.
How did our original Constitution provide for the appointment of Senators? Chosen by the Legislature of each state.
Most foreign countries appoint an ambassador to be their official representative before the government of the United States. Who officially represents the 50 state governments before the government of the United States? Senators were supposed to fill that role, however after the passage of the 17th Amendment, a good argument can be made that such a duty has basically taken a back seat to them trying to win elections first and foremost.
Explain the difference between a rule of law and the rule of man. Rule of law means that all people are equal in the eyes of the law (no one is above the law). The rule of man means that exceptions will likely be made for some people and situations based on whom they know and who is popular and who is unpopular with the majority.
Explain the difference between a democracy and a constitutional republic. A democracy is majority rule, and hence there will always be constantly changing rules and regulations based on what the majority thinks (i.e. slavery was accepted by the majority at one time, and the majority rules, so...) A Constitutional Republic means that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and even a majority opinion cannot override the law.
Was our country founded to be a country of majority rule? No it was not.
Can you imagine what our country would be like today if the majority did rule? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that it would be bad.
Aren't you glad the majority doesn't rule? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person.
Why does it matter in the grand scheme of things who the governor of North Carolina is? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that it is not all that important.
Isn't a governor something you put on a state to keep it from moving ahead very fast? That is one definition.
What possible benefit could you gain by memorizing the motto of the State of North Carolina, or any other state for that matter? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that, other than for interesting trivia, no real benefit exists.
How many times can the word "democracy" found in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution? Zero.
How many times can the word "democracy" found in the constitutions of any of the 50 states? Zero.
What does this tell you? The Founders did not intend for the United States to be a democracy.
Define "civil war." A war between factions in the same country.
Was the war between the northern and southern states in the mid-1800s a civil war? Possibly yes, possibly no, depending on how you look at it. Since the south succeeded from the Union they were, technically, no longer a part of the same country.
Who is third in the line of succession to the presidency? President pro tempore of the Senate (Currently Ted Stevens, R., Alaska)
Based on your answer to the foregoing question, would you demand that George Bush and Dick Cheney never eat from the same container of potato salad should the Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives in the next election? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person.
How did the political class manage to fool the people of the United States into supporting a Constitutional Amendment creating an income tax? Wealth and class envy.
How do most people get their news on a daily bass? Television.
Does the "freedom of press" clause in the First Amendment apply to the broadcast media? No it does not, at least not to the same degree that it does to print media.
So, do most people get their news from agencies licensed to operate by the federal government? Yes, they do.
Why were the words "under God" placed into the Pledge of Allegiance? At the time (1954) those two words were added to the existing PoA, Congress stated the following reason: "The inclusion of God in our pledge therefore would further acknowledge the dependence of our people and our Government upon the moral directions of the Creator. At the same time it would serve to deny the atheistic and materialistic concepts of communism with its attendant subservience of the individual."
Do you think that it is proper for the federal government to compel students attending government schools under compulsory attendance laws to acknowledge the role of God in the formation of our country? Would this constitute "effecting an establishment of religion?" If not, why not? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that, since the school is both a government-run school and compulsory, then it would go against the concept of freedom. Whether or not it is "effecting an establishment of religion" can be debated one way or the other.
Do Americans derive their basic rights from the Constitution? No.
If we don't derive our rights from the Constitution, just why was the Bill of Rights added anyway? To limit government power.
Define a system of government where the means of production are owned and controlled privately. Capitalism.
Define a system of government where the means of production are privately owned but controlled by government. Fascism.
Define a system of government where the means of production are owned and controlled by the government. Communism.
What percentage of total income is earned by the top one percent of income earners. 16.77% of all income reported on 2003 tax returns.
What percentage of total income taxes collected by the federal government is paid by the top one percent of income earners. 34.27% in 2003
Where in our Constitution does it specifically state that only U.S. citizens may vote for the office of President of the United States? Nowhere.
Name one right that a state government can exercise without interference from the federal level. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. But the implication is that the federal level now routinely interferes with states on most everything.
Where in our Constitution does it specifically state that only U.S. citizens may vote for members of the House of Representatives? Nowhere.
Look at the Bill of Rights. List any Amendments in the Bill of Rights that were ratified for the purpose of limiting the powers of the government. All of them (1 through 10.)
If our Constitution provides for equal protection under the law, why, then, does the Voting Rights Act only apply to certain states who were held in political disfavor in the 70's? The Constitution was ignored to punish those holding unpopular views.
List any Amendments in the Bill of Rights that were ratified for the purpose of limiting the rights of individuals. None.
If the Bill of Rights was written to limit the rights of government and to guarantee certain rights in the individual, try to explain why so many people seem to think that the 2nd Amendment was written to limit the rights of individuals and guarantee the rights of government? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that those people are simply wrong in their view of the 2nd Amendment.
Does the First Amendment protect speech that some people might find offensive? Yes.
Explain how our Republic was threatened when Janet Jackson showed the world that she likes to wear a Japanese throwing star on the nipple of her left breast. Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person. But the implication is that there was no threat.
What is the one exclusive power our government has that no individual or business can legally exercise? The initiation of deadly force.
Who is third in the line of succession to the presidency? President pro tempore of the Senate (Currently Ted Stevens, R., Alaska)
Based on your answer to the foregoing question, would you demand that George Bush and Dick Cheney never eat from the same container of potato salad should the Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives in the next election? Personal choice question. Answer will vary from person to person.
I agree with John's interpretation of the question as written, and therefore his answer to the first question, but there's a problem here. Based on the second of the quoted questions, Boortz obviously meant the Speaker of the House (who is second in line) to be the answer to the first question.
How did the political class manage to fool the people of the United States into supporting a Constitutional Amendment creating an income tax?
Wealth and class envy.
There's a question begged here. Isn't it possible that the people of the United States thought (like other people all around the world) that an income tax was a reasonably fair way to pay for armies, roads and so on? Why "fool the people"?
