The citizenship test that has been used for the last several years is composed of a series of questions concerning basic facts about the federal government. The questions include: Who wrote the "Star Spangled Banner"? What are the 13 original colonies? What is the Emancipation Proclamation? How many justices sit on the U.S. Supreme Court and who is the chief justice?
In response to criticism that the test is overly concerned with facts that don't necessarily have relevance to being a good citizen, the USCIS will begin a pilot test program this winter.
The number of questions will be reduced to 10 (with six correct answers required to pass), which are expected to deemphasize historic facts in favor of responses that must elicit some explanation of guiding principles of American democracy and values, such as freedom.
Some critics have commented that the proposed test (which they haven't yet seen) could raise the bar too high for immigrants to show not only that they are willing to study for a test but also that they understand and share American values.
[Note: The proposed change sounds positive. Anything that stresses assimilation is probably a step in the right direction.]
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