What are 'inalienable rights'? If you don't know, you don't get them

[mawilson 2,133]

Ed Pilkington in New York

Friday December 1, 2006

Do you know the minimum age required for any president of the United States?

Can you name America's tallest mountain? Do you know what exactly are

"inalienable rights"?

If you can't, bang go your hopes of living the American dream. You will never

become a citizen of the United States.

At least, you are going to find it harder to do so, as of yesterday. Those three

brainteasers appear on a new list of 144 sample questions put out by the federal

government that will form the basis of a revised test for anyone seeking to turn

themselves into naturalised Americans.

It is the culmination of a five-year struggle to update the citizenship test, which

was laid down in 1986 and has remained virtually untouched since. That exam

contains 96 questions, mostly of a more amenable nature, such as: What are

the colours of our flag? Who was Martin Luther King Jr? When was the Declaration

of Independence adopted?

The new list has provoked a heated debate about the nature of citizenship exams

and what they are seeking to achieve. Immigrants' rights groups fear that by

adding a raft of about 80 new questions, including sections on geography (What

is the longest river in the US?), more probing questions on key historical periods

(Name one war fought by the US in the 1800s) and highly conceptual queries

(What is the rule of law?), will merely erect a new barrier to participation.

Daunting

About 600,000 people become naturalised US citizens every year, but the worry

is that many could be put off by the new questions.

"Our main concern is that the test does not became even more daunting an obstacle

to citizenship than it is right now," said Fred Tsao, of the Illinois Coalition for

Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

Mr Tsao pointed out that in addition to the stress of having to pass the exam, there

is the financial hurdle: naturalisation currently costs $400 (£203) to complete, and

may rise to $800 under current proposals.

His group and other immigration organisations like it have taken to calling the

citizenship test "the second wall". The first wall is the physical structure being

erected along 700 miles of Mexican border, to keep out illegal immigrants. This

second wall, the groups contend, is a barrier to full participation by legal immigrants

who have lived and worked in America for at least five years.

But the phrase is disputed by the US citizenship and immigration service. "I absolutely

hate that term," said Chris Ratigan, an official within the service. "We are trying to

build a wider bridge to citizenship. When someone decides to become an American

citizen - and what a wonderful decision that is - we want them to feel that after they

raise their hand and take the oath to America they are fully ready to participate in

this country."

Under the old test, Ms Ratigan said, there was great inequality about how it was

administered. One state might ask only easy questions such as "Who is the president

of the US today?", while other states would set the harder ones such as "Who said

'Give me liberty or give me death?'" (Answer: Patrick Henry in 1775.) The pass rate -

running at present at 84% on the first sitting of the test and 95% in second and third

sittings - would show large local fluctuations as a result.

Under the new system, questions will be weighted according to their difficulty, so that

no matter where in the country you are taking the test, your chances of success would

be equal.

So how will the new test go down? It will be piloted next year on 5,000 volunteers going

for citizenship in 10 states across the country, to reflect the range of likely applicants.

After feedback, the list will be whittled down to the best 100. Applicants will have to

answer correctly six out of 10 randomly selected questions.

On the streets of New York, the pilot questions received a varied response. Josh, a

businessman, found several questions easy. He knew the president has to be over 35,

that the tallest mountain is Mt McKinley, that the Mississippi is the longest river and

that the early 19th century war was the British-American war of 1812. However, he

was stumped by the question: "What group of essays supported passage of the US

constitution?" (Answer: the Federalist papers.)

Edwin, a security guard from Puerto Rico, was stumped by several questions. Asked

"What does 'We the people' mean in the Constitution?", he replied: "You got me man.

We never learnt that stuff in school."

If Edwin is remotely representative of the nation - and he was just one man plucked

from a New York Street - then the immigration service appears to be pitching its

exam beyond its reach. However, he did get one question almost right. Asked "Who

is the speaker-elect of the House of Representatives?", he said: "I know somebody

was elected from California. Can't remember her name, but I know Bush ain't too

happy about it."

The questions and help for those who need it

The questions

1 What does "we the people" mean in the constitution?

2 Name one example of checks and balances

3 How old must a president be?

4 What territory did the US buy from France in 1803?

5 Name one thing only the federal government can do

6 What is the current minimum wage in the US?

7 Who is the attorney general now?

8 Who governs the people in a self-governed country?

9 What is the "rule of law"?

10 What are "inalienable rights"

11 Name one responsibility that is only for United States citizens

12 When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

13 Name one thing Benjamin Franklin, right, is famous for

14 Name one famous battle from the revolutionary war

15 Name one of the writers of the Federalist papers

16 What group of essays supported the passage of the US constitution?

17 What did Susan B Anthony, right, do?

18 Who was president during the first world war?

19 Where is the Grand Canyon?

20 What is the tallest mountain in the United States?

Full list of question and answers on guardian.co.uk

Acceptable answers

1 The power of government comes from the people

2 The president vetoes a bill; Congress can confirm or not confirm a

president's nomination; Congress approves the president's budget;

the supreme court strikes down a law

3 35

4 West of the Mississippi; the western US; the Louisiana territory

5 Print money; declare war; create an army; make treaties

6 $5.15

7 Alberto Gonzales

8 The people govern themselves; the government elected by the people

9 Everyone must obey the law; leaders must obey the law; government

must obey the law

10 Individual rights that people are born with

11 Vote; serve on a jury

12 By April 15 of every year; by April 15; April 15

13 US diplomat; oldest member of the Constitutional Convention; first

Postmaster General of the United States; writer of Poor Richard's Almanac

14 Lexington and Concord; Trenton; Princeton; Saratoga; Cowpens;

Yorktown; Bunker Hill

15 James Madison; Alexander Hamilton; John Jay

16 The Federalist Papers

17 She fought for women's rights

18 Woodrow Wilson

19 Arizona; The Southwest; along/on the Colorado River

20 Mt McKinley or Denali

Source

[Jenn! 918]

[mrsushi66 0]

Like to see these questions asked of an average highschool student.

Paul Misses Anna

[almaty 19]

hmmm...most american adults could not answer these questions

[kaydee457 13]

I failed the test, sigh....

Do I lose my citizenship now?

[Ecalos 0]

Yeah I'd bet a large percentage of americans don't know the answers to a majority of that...

[mawilson 2,133]

Yeah I'd bet a large percentage of americans don't know the answers to a majority of that...

It's ok to hold immigrants to higher standards than native-born Americans...

[DeadPoolX 9]

I actually did know the answer to those questions; however, I agree that (most likely) the average American wouldn't know how to answer every question, or even most questions, on that test. It's a shame really, because that test really isn't that difficult -- or at least, it shouldn't be for U.S. citizens. I could see it being a challenge for foreign-born individuals, but for those born within the U.S., they should have a greater knowledge of their country. Instead, it seems people are too preoccupied with Britney Spears or the latest episode of Survivor.

[peezey 0]

This is such a ridiculous waste of time and money. I don't think knowledge of these things makes one ready for USC, or proves one's ability to be a good standing USC. I think it's more shameful people who grew up with civics class in US schools don't know these answers. But I also don't think it makes them any less qualified to be a citizen.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

I actually did know the answer to those questions; however, I agree that (most likely) the average American wouldn't know how to answer every question, or even most questions, on that test. It's a shame really, because that test really isn't that difficult -- or at least, it shouldn't be for U.S. citizens. I could see it being a challenge for foreign-born individuals, but for those born within the U.S., they should have a greater knowledge of their country. Instead, it seems people are too preoccupied with Britney Spears or the latest episode of Survivor.

She is single again.

I had a tough time with most of these questions. As long as the questions/answers aren't subjective, I am sure most ppl could learn the answers. The higher hurdle would be if you hand to answer in english. Older folks would have a tougher time I imagine.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

got 17 right. do i get to stay a us citizen? missed 15, 16, and 20