The Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency released a new set of 144 questions of which a person applying for U.S. citizenship must answer six of ten questions correctly to pass the test.
The New York Times reports that Emilio Gonzales, the Director of the agency said:
“When you raise your hand and swear your allegiance to the United States, you really ought to know what you are swearing allegiance to. You ought to internalize by that time, the very values that make this country what it is, the very reason why you are raising your right hand. … Citizenship is not test taking.”
And speaking of civil wars, question #109 asks: Name one problem that led to the Civil War. (Answers: Slavery, Economic reasons, States rights.)
I also found a two good questions to ask of presidential candidates before they are allowed to file for candidacy:
Why do we have three branches of government?
Name one example of checks and balances.
Given the way things have been going for the past six years, those are questions that ought to be asked of the new president before the swearing-in ceremony, and at least twice a year thereafter for as long as he or she remains in office.
