Posted on 11/21/2006 8:51:18 AM PST by theothercheek
Typical questions on the US citizenship test include: “How many states are there in the United States?”; “Where is the White House located?”; and “What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?”
The US government is scrapping this test, which requires nothing more than rote memorization of facts, in favor of a new 10-question oral exam conducted in English that tests an immigrant’s grasp of the principles of American democracy, including the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The change is meant to counteract a 20-30 year retreat from emphasizing Americanization in favor of multiculturalism – a reaction, in part, to the worsening cultural and societal problems caused by large populations of unassimilated immigrants in Europe.
Chris Bentley, spokesman for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency tells The Washington Times that the proposed test for naturalized citizenship has its roots in a report by a Clinton administration commission headed by former Rep. Barbara Jordan that emphasized "effective Americanization of new immigrants, that is the cultivation of a shared commitment to the American values of liberty, democracy and equal opportunity," including policies to "help newcomers learn to speak, read and write English effectively."
Some immigrants "come from a culture, a government, a society that is completely removed from our concept of government," Shawn Saucier, another USCIS spokesman tells The Christian Science Monitor.
The new test makes sense to The Stiletto, but more than 220 immigrant organizations signed a letter to USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez that charges the new test is an insurmountable barrier for "poorer legal immigrants with less English and less education" to getting US citizenship, The Washington Times reports.
The new test will be administered on a trial basis in 10 cities beginning this winter, and will be phased in nationwide by January 2008. Immigrants who fail – that is, answer fewer than six questions correctly - can take the standard test, which almost no one fails.
NOTE: This is the second article in a feature called "The Daily Blade," and follows an article titled "Dems Beset By Indecision, Infighting And Intrigue." The original source includes links to relevant articles and Web sites.
Just making sure they know the mission of the U.N. is to establish a One-World Order and neutralize the United States.
They are testing the test.
Uh, I studied history in college and a) someone above is correct in postulating as to whether a college grad could past this test and b)real testing is social sciences at a college level is always an essay option if the instructor is sincere. Multiple choice in history is a joke and if someone wants to become a citizen they should have a concept of the functionality of both American government and society. Simply asking where the capital is or similar trivia is pretty much begging the uninterested to forget their lessons, but a more difficult exam will help to better instill a sense of what it is to be an American.
"But understand that my client must become a citizen before she qualifies for the panoply of welfare benefits available to United States citizens. It is grossly unfair to ask her to spell: `US'."
Stan the immigration lawyer/Best Buy salesman
Not true. If she has an "anchor baby" the baby qualifies for ALL benefits. Therefore the illegal alien benefits too.
2/3 of Congress couldn't pass those questions. Nearly 3/4 of the judiciary as well...
Further it was written by Lincoln and issued under the concept (conceit?) of wartime powers as an Executive Order. The Cabinet never voted until after its issuance and it never to the best of my knowledge received any legislative blessing.
Interesting... thanks for the info. I was interested in examining how Executive Orders began and how they got to the point they are today (substitutes for the amendment ratification process). If the justification is "emergency powers" then they should be of defined duration (two years, for example) and then expire.
By the way, the Cabinet never "voted." My mistake. Lincoln asked for comments and it (the Proclamation) went out the door before they again met.
Makes you really trust all those claims of "strict requirements" when those illegals get on that path to citizenship huh?
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