Changing trends in path to citizenship

Here are 25 questions from the Principles of American Democracy portion of the test. Suitable answers are listed after.

1. What is the supreme law of the land? 2. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? 3. What is an amendment? 4. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? 5. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? 6. How many amendments does the Constitution have? 7. What is the economic system in the United States? 8. What is the “rule of law”? 9. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? 10. Who makes federal laws? 11. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? 12. How many U.S. senators are there? 13. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? 14. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? 15. We elect a U.S. representa- tive for how many years? 16. Who does a U.S. senator represent? 17. In what month do we vote for president? 18. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president? 19. If both the president and the vice president can no longer serve, who becomes president? 20. What does the president’s Cabinet do? 21. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? 22. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens? 23. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? 24. When must all men register for the Selective Service? 25. When was the Constitution written?

According to Concordia University’s Center for Public Policy, 44% of native-born American citizens cannot pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services civics test, while 90% of those applying for citizenship pass the test. Today we put you to the challenge. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services civics test is just one step in the process to become a U.S. citizen. The test has 100 history and government questions. It is an oral test where a USCIS officer will ask the applicant up to 10 of the 100 civics questions. An applicant must answer six questions correctly to pass. Applicants will be tested in civics as well as speaking, reading and writing English. If you or anyone you know is interested in U.S. citizenship, you can learn more at uscis.gov.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Ileana Gonzalez of Cuba holds back tears as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the oath of allegiance to America’s newest citizens during a naturalization ceremony in Homestead, Fla., this month.