AZ requiring Civics Test for HS Diploma

[eolesen]

How many of these could you answer?

1     What is the supreme law of the land?
2     What does the Constitution do?
3     The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution?
4     What is an amendment?
5     What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
6     What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
7     How many amendments does the Constitution have?
8     What did the Declaration of Independence do?
9     What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
10    What is freedom of religion?
11    What is the economic system in the United States?
12    What is the rule of law?
13    Name one branch or part of the government.?
14    What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
15    Who is in charge of the executive branch?
16    Who makes federal laws?
17    What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
18    How many U.S. Senators are there?
19    We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
20    Who is one of your states U.S. Senators now?
21    The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
22    We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
23    Name your U.S. Representative.?
24    Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
25    Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
26    We elect a President for how many years?
27    In what month do we vote for President?
28    What is the name of the President of the United States now?
29    What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
30    If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
31    If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serv?
32    Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
33    Who signs bills to become laws?
34    Who vetoes bills?
35    What does the Presidents Cabinet do?
36    What are two Cabinet-level positions?
37    What does the judicial branch do?
38    What is the highest court in the United States?
39    How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
40    Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
41    Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal gover?
42    Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What?
43    Who is the Governor of your state now?
44    What is the capital of your state?
45    What are the two major political parties in the United States?
46    What is the political party of the President now?
47    What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives?
48    There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote?
49    What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
50    Name one right only for United States citizens.?
51    What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
52    What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
53    What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
54    How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
55    What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
56    When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
57    When must all men register for the Selective Service?
58    What is one reason colonists came to America?
59    Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
60    What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
61    Why did the colonists fight the British?
62    Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
63    When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
64    There were 13 original states. Name three.
65    What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
66    When was the Constitution written?
67    The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution?
68    What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
69    Who is the Father of Our Country?
70    Who was the first President?
71    What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
72    Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
73    Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
74    Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
75    What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
76    What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
77    What did Susan B. Anthony do?
78    Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.
79    Who was President during World War I?
80    Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
81    Who did the United States fight in World War II?
82    Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was?
83    During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
84    What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
85    What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
86    What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
87    Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. 
88    Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
89    What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
90    What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
91    Name one U.S. territory. 
92    Name one state that borders Canada.
93    Name one state that borders Mexico. 
94    What is the capital of the United States?
95    Where is the Statue of Liberty?
96    Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
97    Why does the flag have 50 stars?
98    What is the name of the national anthem?
99    When do we celebrate Independence Day?
100   Name two national U.S. holidays.

Answers here:
http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test/study-materials-civics-test/100-civics-questions-and-answers-mp3-audio-english-version


Personally, I think it's great that this is a law in AZ. This is all stuff covered in my son's seventh grade social studies class...

 

[jimntx]

However, covered and "being taught and learning"  these basic facts about the political nature of the United States are two entirely different things.  I am appalled at how little young people around me seem to know about the world they live in.  If it hasn't been an issue on Facebook, or Brad and Angelina haven't made a movie about it, they don't seem to have even a passing acquaintance with current events and how they affect us and our world.

 

[signals]

With any luck there will be American citizens that can pass the citizen test that foreigners have to pass.

 

[FWAAA]

I got 98 of them correct, but it is my area, as I teach law and political science.   
 
I think it's a good idea.   When I saw the topic title, I was worried that AZ was requiring this test as a condition of voter registration, you know - a literacy test.    Good thing it's for a high school diploma instead.   
 
Don't most states require graduating seniors to take a semester of Government or equivalent?    

 

[ChockJockey]

One only needs 60/100 right to graduate.  I'm not against it, but it does strike me as another largely symbolic gesture from our legislature that makes it appear that they're Taking Bold Steps To Improve Education In Arizona™, which typically means further cuts to the education budget are to be expected.  Coming from the state that consistently ranks among the bottom in educating its own citizens this initiative does little to allay my cynicism.
 
I'm a certification away from being eligible to teach high school government/civics/political science in AZ, but I'm much better compensated handling baggage for an airline.

 

[jimntx]

My mother taught school in Alabama for 40 years (everything from 8th grade homeroom subjects to chemistry).  With a chemistry degree and a Master's in Education, I don't think she ever made as much as $40,000/yr.  From what I can gather, relatively speaking remuneration for teachers has not changed that much.  Then they wonder why when polled, only the bottom third of the average college class express a goal of being a teacher.  Our teachers should come from the top third.

 

[Ms Tree]

School budgets keep getting cut.  When speaking about the obscean executive pay we allways hear the excuse that you have to pay well to attract/retain top executives, why does the same not apply to teachers?  Teachers are actually important, they are teaching the children who will one day grow up and run the world.  This country has it's priorities all jacked up.

 

[Kev3188]

Personally, I think it's great that this is a law in AZ. This is all stuff covered in my son's seventh grade social studies class...

IMO, civics should again be required nationwide.

So should critical thinking and rhetoric, but one step at a time...

 

[signals]

One only needs 60/100 right to graduate.  I'm not against it, but it does strike me as another largely symbolic gesture from our legislature that makes it appear that they're Taking Bold Steps To Improve Education In Arizona™, which typically means further cuts to the education budget are to be expected.  Coming from the state that consistently ranks among the bottom in educating its own citizens this initiative does little to allay my cynicism.
 
I'm a certification away from being eligible to teach high school government/civics/political science in AZ, but I'm much better compensated handling baggage for an airline.

I've never been to Arizona, but if their public schools are like in my area, assuming that they have a high Hispanic population, most of these students can't speak English. That may explain their ranking. Most of this only occurs in the urban environment, since private schools and suburban schools have a much higher graduation rate.

 

[signals]

IMO, civics should again be required nationwide.

So should critical thinking and rhetoric, but one step at a time...

Don't forget ENGLISH!

 

[eolesen]

My mother taught school in Alabama for 40 years (everything from 8th grade homeroom subjects to chemistry).  With a chemistry degree and a Master's in Education, I don't think she ever made as much as $40,000/yr.  From what I can gather, relatively speaking remuneration for teachers has not changed that much.

Yeah, maybe not in Alabama...

In Illinois, teacher salaries are public info. I once Google'd my son's middle school English teacher, and with 20 years and a Masters, she was pulling down $110K. Not bad for having the entire summer off.

 

[Ms Tree]

Given her level of education and the responsibility that goes with teaching, I'd say she is under paid.

 

[eolesen]

If she was paid by her common sense and interpersonal skills, she'd be making minimum wage.

 

[delldude]

Shouldn't  #1 be What was?

 

[777 fixer]

One only needs 60/100 right to graduate.  I'm not against it, but it does strike me as another largely symbolic gesture from our legislature that makes it appear that they're Taking Bold Steps To Improve Education In Arizona™, which typically means further cuts to the education budget are to be expected.  Coming from the state that consistently ranks among the bottom in educating its own citizens this initiative does little to allay my cynicism.
 
I'm a certification away from being eligible to teach high school government/civics/political science in AZ, but I'm much better compensated handling baggage for an airline.

 
I call it a shinny metal object.  Wave it, in this case the test in question, and it will distract people from the cuts in education.