by Katie Patrick
Are you ready for the U.S. Citizenship test?
Question 1: What is the supreme law of the land?
Question 2: What does the Constitution do?
Question 3: The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
Question 4: What did the Declaration of Independence do?
Question 5: What is the “rule of law”?
Question 6: Who is in charge of the executive branch?
Question 7: What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Question 8: If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
Question 9: What is the highest court in the United States?
Question 10: We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A few years ago, I could have probably quizzed you in my sleep. Twice a week for nearly four years, I helped lawful permanent residents prepare for their U.S. Naturalization interview. About half of my time was spent quizzing them on the 100 Questions (History and Civics) and the other half of my time was spent reassuring them that everything would be okay, that all the studying and preparation would pay off. I would assuage their fears and encourage them to be calm.
Many of my students studied for months and sometimes even years for their naturalization interview, not to mention learning enough English to converse, take the exam, answer questions about their application including good moral character questions, and say the Oath of Allegiance.
I remember one older woman in particular who was originally from Iraq but had lived in Kuwait for many years. She fretted for nearly a year preparing for her interview. Her English was pretty good and she knew the questions front to back, sometimes offering the answer before I could even finish asking the question. Yet there she was, twice a week in my classroom, eager to continue learning and practicing.
There was another: a father of six children who, despite their busy schedules and his full time job, still found time to come twice a week to class. His daughter was so proud the day her dad became a citizen. And then there was a young mother from the Middle East: though I could only see her eyes through her hijab, I saw them light up every time she got an answer right.
What I loved most about teaching was the chance to be a small part of their journey toward citizenship. So many of my students survived genocides and other atrocities. They saw their homes burned, their neighborhoods bombed and their family and friends killed. Our world can be a cruel and harsh place. But that is why I found my job teaching important. I showed up and asked them the same 100 questions over and over and over again. In a small way, I was helping them move onto a new chapter in their lives.
Please know that there are many opportunities like these and others in our communities across the state. If you feel called to spend time volunteering in one of our programs or would like to explore volunteer opportunities at other agencies, I strongly encourage you to just do it. These encounters with one another are the ones that bring us closer to Christ. And I promise you, you won’t regret it.
May God Bless You. Happy Fourth of July!
Now here are the answers to the test:
Answer 1: The Constitution
Answer 2: Sets up the government – or – defines the government – or – protects the basic rights of Americans
Answer 3: We the People
Answer 4: Declared our independence from Great Britain
Answer 5: No one is above the law – or – everyone must follow the law – or – leaders must follow the law – or – No one is above the law
Answer 6: The President
Answer 7: Checks and balances – or – separation of powers
Answer 8: Speaker of the House
Answer 9: Supreme Court
Answer 10: Six years
