Does a high-schooler know as much about the U.S. as an immigrant does?
Immigrants applying to become U.S. citizens must pass a 10-question civics test that asks questions related to American history and government, but now one civics-minded…
One in three Americans would fail the same U.S. naturalization civics test that immigrants applying to become U.S. citizens must pass, according to a national survey. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Immigrants applying to become U.S. citizens must pass a 10-question civics test that asks questions related to American history and government, but now one civics-minded group wants all high school students to take the same test, regardless of where they were born.
The reason: More than 97 percent of immigrants succeed in passing the test. In comparison, only 65 percent of native-born Americans can pass the test by answering at least six questions correctly. Thats according to a national survey by the Center for the Study of the American Dream.
SEE ALSO: Know the key steps to the naturalization process
A national campaign promoting civics education is working to change that. The Civics Education Initiative is encouraging state lawmakers to pass legislation that requires high school students to pass the same civics exam given to immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship in order to graduate.
At least seven statesArizona, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utahhave launched the campaign and have committed to introducing such legislation. Five more states are gearing up to do the same.
The goal of the Civics Education Initiative is get every state to make passing the civics exam a requirement to graduate high school by Sept. 17, 2017. Thats the day the nation will celebrate the 230th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
SEE ALSO: Bipartisan bill seeks to help immigrants integrate into U.S. society
But the survey by the Center for the Study of the American Dream shows the Civics Education Initiative has a long way to go. The survey found that only 7 percent of the 1,023 native-born Americans surveyed knew how many amendments are in the U.S. Constitution, while only 16 percent could identify the number of voting members in the House of Representatives. And just 32 percent were able to say how many justices are on the Supreme Court.
Would you be able to pass the U.S. naturalization civics test? Test yourself by answering these 10 questions and check your answers below.
1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
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2. Under the Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
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3. When do we celebrate Independence Day?
(Wikimedia Commons/Pablo Valerio)
4. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
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5. Name one of the three branches of the federal government?
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6. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
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7. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?
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8. Who signs bills to become laws?
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
9. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
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10. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Answers:
1. 27 amendments
2. provide schooling and education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire departments), give a drivers license, approve zoning and land use
3. July 4
4. Bill of Rights
5. legislative, executive, judicial
6. 435 voting members
7. 6 years
8. the president
9. April 15
10. 9 justices
