MountainWings       A MountainWings Moment
#3185a              Wings Over The Mountains of Life



U.S. Citizenship
==============

Could you pass the U.S. Citizenship test?

Sure, you've lived here all of your life.  You've taken U.S. 
history in school, but could you pass the test?

A person taking the U.S. citizenship test is typically asked 
about a dozen of 100 potential questions.
They are allowed to miss a couple.

Take a minute and see how you would do with these 12 questions.

Correct answers are in RED with an asterisk.

1. What do the stripes on the flag mean?
a) They represent the 13 original colonies*
b) They represent each of the people who signed the Declaration 
   of Independence
c) They represent the battles fought for United States 
   independence

2. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
a) 23
b) 19
c) 27*

3. What are the three branches of our government?
a) Legislative, executive, and judicial*
b) Legislative, parliamentary, judicial
c) Executive, legislative, parliamentary

4. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
a) It ordered that Pilgrims be freed from British oppression
b) It ordered that slaves in rebel territory be freed*
c) It allowed citizens of the United States to claim land

5. Who becomes president of the United States if the president 
   and the vice president should die?
a) The secretary of state
b) The attorney general
c) The Speaker of the House of Representatives*

6. Which countries were our main allies during World War II?
a) United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, 
   Italy, France
b) United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, China, 
   France
c) United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, 
   China, France*

7. What is the 49th state of the Union (United States)?
a) Alaska*
b) Hawaii
c) New Mexico

8. How many Supreme Court justices are there?
a) 9*
b) 12
c) 13

9. What is the national anthem of the United States?
a) "America the Beautiful"
b) "This Land is Your Land"
c) "The Star-Spangled Banner"*

10. In what year was the Constitution written?
a) 1776
b) 1771
c) 1787*

11. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
a) Constitution
b) Mayflower*
c) Titanic

12. How many representatives are there in Congress?
a) 104
b) 284
c) 435*

None of the questions are multiple choice on the actual test.
Applicants are asked the questions by an examiner.

Other questions from the 100 questions on the citizenship test:

Can you name two senators from your state?
Well, can you?

According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain 
requirements in order to be eligible to become president.
Name one of these requirements.
Must be a natural born citizen of the United States; 
must be at least 35 years old by the time he or she will serve; 
must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

Why are there 100 senators in the Senate?
Two from each state.

"The reason there are two senators for each state is
so that one can be the designated driver."  Jay Leno

What do the stars on the flag mean?
One for each state in the Union.

What are the duties of Congress?
To make laws.

How many representatives are there in Congress?
You should remember that from a prior question.

What is the supreme law of the United States?
The Constitution

What is the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

Can you name the 13 original states?
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, 
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island 
and Maryland.

What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the American 
Colonists?
Thanksgiving

What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
That all men are created equal.

Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?
Francis Scott Key.

What special group advises the president?
The Cabinet.

Name three rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
1. The right of freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable 
    assembly and requesting change of government. 
2. The right to bear arms (or, the right to have lawful weapons,
   including firearms, though subject to certain regulations). 
3. The government may not quarter, or house, soldiers in private
   homes during peacetime without the owner's consent. 
4. The government may not search or take a person's property 
   without a warrant.
5. A person may not be tried twice by the same jurisdiction for
   the same crime and cannot be forced to testify against themselves.
6. A person charged with a crime still has many rights, including
   the right to have a trial and be represented by a lawyer.
7. The right to jury trial by his/her peers in most cases.
8. Protects people against excessive or unreasonable fines or
   cruel and unusual punishment.
9. The people have rights other than those mentioned in the 
   Constitution.
10. Any power not given to the federal government by the 
    Constitution is a power reserved either to states or the
    people.

Name one purpose of the United Nations.
For countries to discuss world problems; to provide economic aid
to many countries; occasionally take action.

Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the 
Bill of Rights?
Everyone (citizens and noncitizens living in the United States).

How many times may be a senator be reelected?
How many times may a congressman be reelected?
There is no limit for either a senator or congressman at this 
time.

Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox.
See you tomorrow.