Thursday’s proposed immigration plan includes a citizenship civics test for applicants who want U.S. permanent residency, or a green card.
What would such a test look like?
We might get an idea from the test immigrants must pass to become naturalized citizens. The test has 100 questions, which people can study in advance. When they take the test, they are asked 10 questions. They must get six right.
“100 Questions and Answers About Immigrants to the U.S.” has 100 questions, too, though they are about immigration, not civics.
However, in the back of that guide are 10 questions from the U.S. citizenship test. One of the steps to becoming a citizen is to answer 10 questions about U.S. government, history and civics chosen from a battery of 100. Questions are provided by U.S. Citizen and Immigrant Services. Can you answer these 10 questions from the battery of 100?
1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
2. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
3. If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
4. Name one right only for United States citizens.
5. What is one reason colonists came to America?
6. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
7. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
8. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
9. Name one U.S. territory.
10. What is the name of the national anthem?
To become a citizen, you need to get six right. Would you pass? Answers are at the bottom. To discourage peking, we are separating the questions from the answers with a few of the questions the guide answers:
- What are the predominant religions of U.S. immigrants?
- What’s the most common entry point for immigrants today?
- How many types of visas are there?
- Are immigrants loyal to their home country or the United States?
- What does first- and second-generation mean?
- What are “English only” laws?
- Are Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens?
- What is the difference between refugees and asylum seekers?
- Why is the term “unauthorized immigrant” preferred over “illegal alien” or “undocumented immigrant”?
- What is the difference between deportation and detention?
Do unauthorized immigrants pay taxes?
Now, score yourself on the test questions
These are the answers the U.S. Citizen and Immigrant Services suggests. Some questions have additional correct answers.
1. Twenty-seven (27)
2. Four hundred thirty-five (435)
3. The Speaker of the House
4. Vote in a federal election or run for federal office
5. Suggested answers are freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, practice their religion, escape persecution.
6. Correct answers are (James) Madison, (Alexander) Hamilton, (John) Jay and Publius
7. The Louisiana Territory or Louisiana
8. (Franklin) Roosevelt
9. Correct answers include Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
10. The Star-Spangled Banner
