When students first start
attending my academic sessions in the New Salem Educational Initiative, their
knowledge prior to my instruction in civics (government, politics, rights of
citizenship)--- and all major academic
subjects--- is abysmal. If this test is being administered, then, it
bears investigating under what conditions and why if the test is being administered
student knowledge remains so spare.
So the legitimacy and reality of
test administration is one matter. Then there
is the matter of the low standard set for passing, whereby answering 30 out of
50 questions correctly yields a passing score.
Look also at the rudimentary content of this test. Even if proof can be found that the Minneapolis
Public Schools and other districts are administering this test, should
answering 60% of questions correctly on such a basic assessment of knowledge be
sufficient to demonstrate knowledge of government, politics, and citizenship?
Consider the following
questions, then ask some or all of these questions to a young person in your
familial and social universe. My
assertion is that among those young people you will discover a startling lack
of knowledge as to the topics covered on this test.
Perpend:
Civics Test Requirement
In 2016, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law requiring Minnesota students in public schools to pass a civics test. Passing this test is not required for graduation. The test consists of 50 out of the 100 questions in the INS Naturalization Test. The 50 questions are selected by Learning Law and Democracy Foundation in consultation with civics teachers. The selected test questions are posted on Minnesota's Legacy website. This legislation is effective for students enrolling in grade 9 in the 2017-2018 school year. Students must pass 30 of the 50 questions. How the test is given is up to local school districts and instructors. The law is effective for students enrolling in grade 9 in the 2017-2018 school year.
MINNESOTA
CIVICS TEST
The
following 50 questions which serve as the Minnesota's civics test were selected
from the 100 questions used for the naturalization test administered by U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services. Some questions have been edited for
improved understanding or to include Minnesota specific content. Suggested
answers are in italics. There may be additional correct answers. (Source: U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services)
1.
What is the supreme law of the United States?
▪ the Constitution
2.
What does the Constitution do?
▪ sets up the government
▪ defines the government
▪ protects basic rights of Americans
3.
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution.
What are these words?
▪ We the People
4.
What is an amendment?
▪ a change (to the Constitution)
▪ an addition (to the Constitution)
5.
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
▪ the Bill of Rights
6.
What is one right or freedom protected by the First Amendment?
▪ speech
▪ religion
▪ assembly
▪ press
▪ petition the government
7.
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
▪ life
▪ liberty
▪ pursuit of happiness
8.
What does freedom of religion mean?
▪ You can practice any religion
▪ You can practice no religion.
9.
What does the “rule of law” mean?
▪ Everyone must follow the law.
▪ Leaders must obey the law.
▪ Government must obey the law.
▪ No one is above the law.
10.
Name one branch or part of the government.
▪ Congress
▪ legislative
▪ President
▪ executive
▪ the courts
▪ judicial
11. What stops one branch of government from becoming too
powerful?
▪ checks and
balances
▪ separation of powers
12. Who is in charge of the federal executive branch?
▪ the President
13. Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and
House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature
14. What are the two bodies of the U.S. Congress?
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)
15. How many U.S. Senators are there?
▪ one hundred (100)
16. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
▪ six (6)
17. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)
18. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
▪ two (2) year terms
19. Who is represented by a U.S. Senator?
▪ all people of the state
20. Why do some states have more Representatives than other
states?
▪ (because of)
the state’s population
▪ (because) they
have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people
21. We elect a President for how many years?
▪ four (4) year
term
▪ maximum of two four- year terms
22. In what month do we vote for President?
▪ November
23. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes
President?
▪ the Vice President
24. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
▪ the President
25. Who signs bills to become laws?
▪ the President
▪ the
Governor
26. Who vetoes bills?
▪ the President
▪ the Governor
27. What does the President’s Cabinet do?
▪ advises the President
28. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
▪ Secretary of Agriculture
▪ Secretary of
Commerce
▪ Secretary of
Defense
▪ Secretary of
Education
▪ Secretary of
Energy
▪ Secretary of
Health and Human Services
▪ Secretary of
Homeland Security
▪ Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development
▪ Secretary of
the Interior
▪ Secretary of
Labor
▪ Secretary of
State
▪ Secretary of
Transportation
▪ Secretary of
the Treasury
▪ Secretary of
Veterans Affairs
▪ Attorney
General
▪ Vice President
29. What does the judicial branch do?
▪ reviews laws
▪ explains laws
▪ resolves
disputes (disagreements)
▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution
30. What is the highest court in the United States?
▪ the Supreme Court
31. How many justices are on the United States Supreme Court?
▪ nine (9)
32. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal
government. What is one power of the
federal government?
▪ to print money
▪ to declare war
▪ to create an
army
▪ to make treaties
33. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states.
What is one power of the states?
▪ provide
schooling and education
▪ provide
protection (police)
▪ provide safety
(fire departments)
▪ give a driver’s license
▪ approve zoning and land use
34. What is the capital of your state?
▪ St. Paul, Minnesota
35. What are two major political parties in the United
States?
▪ Democratic and Republican
36. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who
can vote. Describe one of them.
▪ Citizens
eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
▪ You don’t have
to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
▪ Any citizen can
vote. (Women and men can vote.)
▪ A male citizen of any race (can vote).
37. What is one responsibility limited to United States
citizens?
▪ serve on a jury
▪ vote in a federal election
38. Name one right provided for only United States citizens.
▪ vote in a federal
election
▪ run for federal office
39. What are two rights of everyone living in the United
States?
▪ freedom of
expression
▪ freedom of
speech
▪ freedom of
assembly
▪ freedom to
petition the government
▪ freedom of religion
40. What is one promise made by people when they become
naturalized United States citizens?
▪ give up loyalty
to other countries
▪ defend the
Constitution and laws of the United States
▪ obey the laws
of the United States
▪ serve in the
U.S. military (if needed)
▪ serve (do
important work for) the nation (if needed)
▪ be loyal to the United States
41. How old do citizens have to be to vote in the election
for President?
▪ eighteen (18) and older
42. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their
democracy?
▪ vote
▪ join a
political party
▪ help with a
campaign
▪ join a civic
group
▪ join a
community group
▪ give an elected
official your opinion on an issue
▪ call Senators
and Representatives
▪ publicly
support or oppose an issue or policy
▪ run for office
▪ write to a newspaper
43. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
▪ at age eighteen (18)
▪ between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
44. What is one reason colonists came to America?
▪ freedom
▪ political
liberty
▪ religious
freedom
▪ economic
opportunity
▪ practice their
religion
▪ escape persecution
45. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
▪ American
Indians
▪ Native Americans
46. What do we call people who were taken from Africa to
America and sold into bondage?
▪ slaves
47. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
▪ slavery
▪ economic
reasons
▪ states’ rights
48. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
▪ fought for
women’s rights
▪ fought for civil rights
49. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
▪ civil rights (movement)
50. Name one of the eleven federally recognized American
Indian tribes, bands, or communities in the Minnesota.
▪ Red Lake Nation
(Ojibwe)
▪ White Earth
Nation (Ojibwe)
▪ Bois Forte Band
of Chippewa (Ojibwe)
▪ Grand Portage
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe)
▪ Fond du Lac
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe)
▪ Mille Lacs Band
of Ojibwe (Ojibwe)
▪ Leech Lake Band
of Ojibwe (Ojibwe)
▪ Prairie Island
Indian Community (Dakota)
▪ Shakopee
Mdewakanton Sioux Community (Dakota)
▪ Upper Sioux
Community (Dakota)
▪ Upper Sioux
Community (Dakota)
▪ Lower Sioux Indian Community (Dakota)
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