MyDD Civic Literacy Test
by Charles Lemos, Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 01:35:23 AM EST
At the National Tea Party Convention, former GOP Colorado Congressman Tommy Tancredo bemoaned the civic literacy of Americans in particular taking a swipe at immigrants which is ironic since immigrants have to pass an American history and civics test in order to become citizens.
TANCREDO: And then, something really odd happened, mostly because I think that we do not have a civics literacy test before people can vote in this country. People who could not even spell the word "vote," or say it in English, put a committed socialist idealogue in the White House, name is Barack Hussein Obama.
Here are some sample questions from the test that immigrants take to become citizens courtesy of MSNBC.
The correct answers are below the fold but I'll add my own tougher questions. I think civic and historical literacy important but the notion of that it be a requirement to vote is absurd.
1) Name the 14th state admitted to the Union.
2) How many men have served as President?
3) George Washington did not let his Vice President, John Adams, sit in the Cabinet setting a precedent that would last for over a century. Name the President who first welcomed his VP into the Cabinet and name the Vice President.
4) The first comprehensive immigration reform legislation was passed and signed by which President?
5) Name the first President to be born an American citizen.
6) Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution but the Constitution wasn't considered binding until the ninth state had ratified. Which was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution?
7) The Seven Years' War fought between 1757 and 1763 is considered the first global war. The North American portion of that war is also known by which another name?
8) Which historic event took place on March 5, 1770?
9) What are the Federalist Papers? Who wrote them?
10) Who was the only President to also later become a Supreme Court Justice?
11) What is meant by the term "Accidental President"? Who was the first? Bonus if you can name them all.
12) Name the state that has been the birthplace of more Presidents than any other. Bonus if you can name them all.
13) Name the first President not born in Virginia or Massachusetts. Hint: he was born in North Carolina.
14) Which state did not send any representatives to the Constitutional Convention?
15) Barack Obama is the first sitting Senator to be elected President since John F. Kennedy. Name the previous Senator to be elected directly to the Presidency.
16) The case of Marbury vs Madison established which important principle?
17) Though Washington has the capital of the United States since 1800, eight other cities have served as capitals of the United States. Name them. Bonus if you can identify the one that served as the US capital for only one day. Hints: Three are in Pennsylvania, two others are state capitals today.
18) Which battle proved to be the decisive battle in the War for Independence?
19) From 1781 to 1788, the United States was governed by another constitution. That constitution went by what name?
20) Who coined the phrase "We The People"?
21) What is meant by the Connecticut Compromise? Who offered it? Hint: It was the topic of a previous post.
22) Elbrigde Gerry is unique among the Founding Fathers. Why?
23) George Washington is considered to the "Father of his Country" but which founder is considered to be the "Father of the Federal Government"? Who is considered the "Father of the Constitution"?
24) What is meant by the "separation of powers"?
25) The United States has what type of electoral system?
I'll post the answers to my quiz on Monday to give people time to submit their answers.
1. How many stripes are there on the U.S. flag? The correct answer is 13.
2. Who is the chief justice of the Supreme Court today? The correct answer is John G. Roberts Jr.
3. In what year was the Constitution written? The correct answer is 1787.
4. Which of these is guaranteed by the First Amendment? The correct answer is Freedom of the press.
5. How many Supreme Court justices are there? The correct answer is 9.
6. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? The correct answer is The Bill of Rights.
7. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? The correct is July 4, 1776.
8. Which of the following amendments to the Constitution does NOT address or guarantee voting rights? The correct is the 7th Amendment which concerns the right to a jury trial in certain civil trials.
9. What are the 13 original states? The correct grouping is Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland.
10. What do the stripes on the U.S. flag mean? The correct answer is "They represent the 13 original states."
11. What is the introduction to the Constitution called? The correct is The Preamble.
12. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution? The correct answer is 27.
13. Which of the following is NOT one of the constitutional requirements to be eligible to become president? The correct answer is "Must have served as a governor."
14. Who selects the Supreme Court justices? A bit of trick question. The best answer is "They are appointed by the president." NOTE: This is the response given on the official United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site. The president selects the justices; however, they must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. If they are rejected by the Senate, then the president must choose a new nominee, who, again, is subject to Senate approval.
15. How many representatives are there in Congress? The correct answer is 435.
16. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death"? The correct answer is Patrick Henry.
17. Why did the Pilgrims come to America? The correct answer is "For religious freedom."
18. Who has the power to declare war? The correct answer is Congress though the Congress hasn't declared war since 1942. Kudos if you can name the last country upon which the US declared war. Hint it is a European country.
19. What INS form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen? The correct N-400 "Application for Naturalization" If you got this right, then consider applying for citizenship.
20. Which of these contains three rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights? The correct grouping is "Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion".
I'll post the answers to my quiz on Monday to give people time to submit their answers.
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