this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2024
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On the first day of his American National Government class, Prof. Kevin Dopf asks how many of his students are United States citizens. Every hand shoots up.

“So, how did all you people become citizens?” he asks. “Did you pass a test?”

“No,” one young woman says tentatively. “We were born here.”

It’s a good thing. Based on his years of making his students at the University of South Carolina Beaufort take the test given to immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship, most would be rejected.

Most states require some sort of high school civics instruction. But with surveys showing that a third of American adults can’t name the three branches of the federal government, and one in which 10% of college graduates think Judith Sheindlin – TV’s “Judge Judy” – serves on the U.S. Supreme Court, many think we should be aiming higher.

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[–] [email protected] 39 points 2 days ago (9 children)

Here's an AP citizenship quiz, if you want to test your knowledge.

https://apnews.com/projects/us-civics-quiz/

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I got them all right, including the number of Representatives, which is something that Jill Stein (who is actually running for president) didn't know.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 days ago (1 children)
  1. But I knew that because I read about her dumbass answer. But I thought it was 140 before, so I was still more correct than her and I’m not even running for president.

I’m now announcing my candidacy. Vote some_guy.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Um... There are 435 members of the US House of Representatives.

If you include the 100 Senators, there are 535 "representatives" in the US.

145 is not the answer to anything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Whoops, I fucked that up. I meant to type 410. I dunno how I biffed that so badly.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 days ago

I'm surprised I got 80%. I thought I'd fail for sure. Granted, the real test isn't multiple choice, at least according to the blurb at the end of the quiz. I'm sure I'd do horribly on the real thing, but that's why people study for it ahead of time.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I only got 50%, phew. Guess I won't have to move to the US any time soon.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

Imagine if knowing about US civics ended with people getting conscripted as immigrants.

"NO, PLEASE, NOT AMERICA"

"WE NEED YOUR CIVIC KNOWLEDGE"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

10/10 and most cases didn't even need to see the choices.

E. Pleb Nista!

https://youtu.be/3bYkNptOJns#t=50s

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

I'd have got 100%, but I misread the date on the first one.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

6/10. Not bad for never having taken a US civics course.

Miffed I missed the Bill o'Rights one. As ever, need to slow down and read the question better.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Was it the one about how many amendments are in the bill of rights? I picked 20 since I know we have close to that (but apparently 11+ aren't considered part of the BoR?).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

The Bill of Rights (amendments 1-10) specifically addressed debate over ratification of the Constitution.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

BoR are the first 10/27 amendments. They were all ratified in 1791. Federalists thought that the structural elements laid out in the main document would protect people's rights but Antifederalists insisted on codifying specific rights and the BoR was a promise to get more people on board with the idea of the Constitution.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I got 9/10. Maybe I could migrate to the US.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Maybe wait until November before you make a decision

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

Woo! Got a 100!

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The AP citizenship quiz shouldn't be AP, it should be a requirement to graduate.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I think ap doesn't mean advanced placement, but associated press. Or I got whooshed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It is the Associated Press. Damn, I should have clarified that. My bad.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

One would think the apnews.com link and Associated Press site would be a good indicator.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Oops. I stand by my general statement. Passing a civics quiz should be required to graduate high school.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

US history and US govt are required courses in most high schools. The information they teach is generally what would be on the citizenship test

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Yes. And other standardized test subjects are taught in classes.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Most states (perhaps all of them?) require at least a year of US history to get a HS diploma. They do not guarantee the students retain the knowledge after passing the class, of course.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

A year of U.S. history and a civics class are in no way the same.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I agree civics is immensely important, but I think we might have bigger issues in our education system.

https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/post/literacy-statistics-2024-2025-where-we-are-now

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

I realize there are other problems like literacy, but it's not like we can't do both work on literacy and civics.