What does it mean to be an American?

On this Fourth of July, sit back while the burgers are grilling and take a moment to ponder what it means to be a citizen.

Below is a link to an INS sample 100 questions that can be used to administer the citizenship test to potential candidates (Hey, wouldn't it be fun to administer this test to the presidential candidates?). Generally 10 questions are asked, 7 of which must be answered correctly.

I took the whole test and scored a 98, missing "what INS form do you use to apply to become a naturalized citizen" (N-400), and "name the two senators from your state", I missed one, but then again I've only been a resident for seventeen days.

Some of the questions are looking for the INS's 'right answer' as they are opinion type questions such as "What is the most important right?" The INS answer is "The Right to Vote".

Most of the questions are factoids, testing your memory more than your understanding of what it means to be an American, such as how many amendments to the Constitution, or in what year was it written. Which tests your knowledge of history more than it tests your understanding of principles.

http://cltr.co.douglas.nv.us/Elections/100QuestionTest.htm

One question that I answered correctly while wondering why it was even on the test was:

Name one purpose of the United Nations

Which is undoubtedly a relevant historical question has nothing to do with being an American.

Strangely enough there is no "official test" It is up to each of the 33 INS district offices and the individual interviewers to decide what a citizen needs to know. Most district offices develop a list of suggested questions (which is where the test above came from), but I suppose, If the interviewer didn't like the candidate, he could always ask: "Who was the Postmaster General under John Tyler Jr." Well, at least it was a cabinet position back then... and it was Charles A. Wickliffe. You can undoubtedly see my point... we leave an awful lot of power in the hands of an anonymous INS bureaucrat.

So, ask yourself... What does it really mean to be an American? Think about what questions you would ask a potential candidate, and why.

Does one need to know the principles upon which our government is founded? Does one need to know the principles of capitalism? Does one even need to know English? Does one need to know history? Or just the basic concepts of our Constitution?

~Finntann~