The New Citizenship Test

The U.S. government has rolled out a new citizenship test to be given to those who desire to become legal citizens of the United States of America. Compared to the old test, this one comes up dreadfully short.

Patrick Henry is no longer considered required knowledge for those seeking citizenship. There is not a single question on Henry on the new test, compared to 3 on the old test.

Yet those who composed the new test must believe that knowing that Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House is required knowledge. A question on the exam asks, 'Who is the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives?'

Understandably, there is a question on the exam about Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a part of the nation's history and is therefore part of our identity.

Nonetheless, the new test is short on U.S. history and long on 'current events.'

I'm sorry but I can't for the life of me figure out how a knowledge of current events makes one a good U.S. citizen. A person can be a citizen of Cuba or Venezuela and be fairly knowledgeable about current events.

The thing that makes a person a good citizen of the U.S. is a knowledge of and appreciation for our unique history, our form of government, our Constitution.

I would like to see prospective citizens answer questions such as, 'What are the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution commonly called?' Another is, 'Name the four components of the First Amendment.' Yet another would be, 'What individual right does the Second Amendment protect?'

And then of course I would include a question concerning the one thing named within the text of the Constitution that indicates the only legitimate role of government.

It would be absolutely essential that prospective citizens know who were Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, George Mason, along with their contributions to the Republic. Added to that would be questions about the first three Presidents.

Granted, such questions would make becoming a citizen much more difficult. I make no apology for that. We should demand that only those with a basic knowledge of American history and government be allowed as citizens.

There are far too many among the present citizenry who are alarmingly clueless concerning these vital facts. Perhaps all of us should be required to take the test periodically.