Update on Citizenship and Social Capital

Last March, SCI posted some thoughts about the proposed new citizenship test administered by the government to aspiring citizens. Apparently the test has now been implemented, as this story in the New York Times points out. Although there are some questions that seem easy to most Americans, there are several that are apparently beyond the average level of political knowledge.

...in an unscientific survey on Thursday afternoon of people inside the Chicago Cultural Center, a downtown venue for play readings, book group meetings and journal writing, there were also some consistent sticklers on the exam.

Few here knew that the Constitution has 27 amendments.

Few recalled that Susan B. Anthony was known for her work on women’s rights — not even one mortified woman who described herself as a women’s rights advocate.

And few were able to recall Nancy Pelosi’s name when asked to name the speaker of the House, Question No. 47. J. Dennis Hastert, the former speaker, got a few mentions in this, his home state. As did others.

“Condoleezza Rice, I think?” offered Richard Adelman, 65. “Gee whiz, I can’t think of it. Oh no. I’ve been a volunteer election judge, but gee whiz. I don’t know.”

In addition to these harder, factual questions, the new exam also includes more philosophical questions, like "What is the rule of law?" At the article observes, that's a hard question to answer in a sentence or less, and it almost seems naive to think that one could sum up this concept with four answers (Everyone must follow the law, Leaders must obey the law. Government must obey the law, and No one is above the law--by the way, these aren't provided as options like a multiple-choice test).

The Times page has links to the entire question bank with answers, a short 10 question test, and a comparison between the old and new tests. Check it out.

As we discussed in March, the main thing that sticks out here is that most Americans would not be able to pass this exam, which immigrants must pass in order to become citizens. What do you think the purpose of this is? Should everyone have to pass a test like this as part of high school education, like the MCAS in Massachusetts? Is this a barrier to participation in civic life--or does the preparation for this test stay with the new Americans as they enter our society and contribute?