Download Jenifer Albrandt - Chiesman Center for Democracy

To Be or Not to Be a Citizen:
Can You Pass the Naturalization Test?
Prepared By:
Kathy Wolff
Rapid City Area School District
Stevens High School
Rapid City, SD
Developed for
Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study (LEGIS)
Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc.
1641 Deadwood Ave.
Rapid City, SD 57702
www.chiesman.org
2009
The contents of the K – 12 LEGIS LESSONS were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of
Education (Grant No. 84.304c – LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study). However,
the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should
not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (EDGAR: 34 CFR)
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
HS.A.7; HS.B.7; HS.E.2
Lesson Title: To Be or Not To Be a Citizen: Can you pass the Naturalization Test?
Prepared By: Kathy Wolff
Grade Level: High School
Time Required: 1--50 minute classes
Lesson in Unit:
9-12
Lesson 7 of 14 in Unit: What is Government?
Lesson 7 of 10 in Unit: Governmental Leadership
Lesson 2 of 9 in Unit: Citizen Rights & Responsibilities
I.
Essential Questions:
When you become a United States citizen, you receive certain rights and
privileges of citizenship. The process of becoming a U.S. citizen is called
naturalization and involves many steps. One step in the process is proving your
knowledge of U.S. history and government by passing a test. Sometimes we, as
U.S. citizens, assume we know what people in the process of obtaining
citizenship are learning, but do we really?
II.
South Dakota Grade Level Content Standards
9—12.C.1.1. Students are able to explain the characteristics of various forms of
government.
9—12.C.1.2. Students are able to determine the influence of major historical
documents and ideals on the formation of the United States government.
9—12.C.1.3. Students are able to identify the principles of the American
Constitution.
9—12.C.1.4. Students are able to explain the principles of American democracy.
9—12.C.2.3. Students are able to describe the process of naturalization.
III.
Assessment Strategies
Assessment will consist scoring the Naturalization test and participation in the
discussion concerning why citizens do not or may not know the questions on the
test.
IV.
Learning Objectives
Students will understand the naturalization process and evaluate their own
knowledge of the history and civics facts that people attempting to become U.S.
citizens must prove. Students will then analyze the reasons why citizens may not
know this information and why the government requires new citizens to have this
knowledge.
V.
Necessary Materials/Technology:
1. Computer with internet access
2. Naturalization Test
VI.
Background Information:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
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reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
- XIV Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Citizenship is one of the most coveted gifts that the U.S. government can
bestow. Most people become U.S. citizens in one of two ways:
1. By birth, either within the territory of the United States or to U.S. citizen
parents,
or
2. by Naturalization.
In addition, in 2000, Congress passed the Child Citizenship Act (CCA), which
allows any child under the age of 18 who is adopted by a U.S. citizen and
immigrates to the United States to acquire immediate citizenship.
(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
VII.
Detailed Lesson Description
1. Students will access the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service’s
website.
2. Click and read the following links:
a. Services and Benefits
b. How Do I” Fact sheets
c. Citizenship
3. Discuss as a class the seven general requirements for naturalization.
4. Distribute the Naturalization Test.
5. Score the test as a class.
6. Students will then work in small groups to analyze the following questions:
a. Why does the government require new citizens to learn about the United
States and its government?
b. If naturalized citizens are required to know this information, what
responsibilities do natural-born citizens have to know the same information?
VIII.
Bibliography/Resources
www.uscis.gov (U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services)
The contents of the K – 12 LEGIS LESSONS were developed under a grant from the
U.S. Department of Education (Grant No. 84.304c – LEGIS: Legislative Education for
Greater Inquiry and Study). However, the contents do not necessarily represent the
policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement
by the Federal Government. (EDGAR: 34 CFR)
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
Page 2
Naturalization Test
1. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me
death"?
Benjamin Franklin
Patrick Henry
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
7. What is the Bill of Rights?
The first part of the Declaration of
Independence
The Pledge of Allegiance
The Preamble
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
2. What color are the stars on our flag?
Blue
8. What did the Emancipation Proclamation
do?
Gold
Ended the Civil War
Red
Freed the slaves
White
Freed the Indians
3. In what year was the Constitution written?
1812
1787
Ended World War II
9. How many voting members are in the
House of Representatives?
1876
100
1776
102
4. What do the stars on the flag mean?
One for each of our Founding Fathers
One for each Article of the Constitution
One for each state
They are not symbolic of anything
5. What do we celebrate on the 4th of July?
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving
Independence Day
Washington's Birthday
6. Who makes the Federal laws in the United
States?
The President
435
50
10. Who was the first president of the United
States?
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
Patrick Henry
11. How many changes, or amendments, are
there to the Constitution?
13
9
27
10
The Cabinet
Congress
The Supreme Court
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
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12. What are the duties of the Supreme
Court?
To serve the President as Cabinet
members
To write laws
To execute laws
17. How many Supreme Court Justices are
there?
9
3
10
13
To interpret and explain the laws
13. How many times may a Senator or
Congressman be re-elected?
Once
There is no limit
6 times
18. For how long do we elect each member
of the House of Representatives?
6 years
There is no limit
4 years
2 years
4 times
14. What is the introduction to the
Constitution called?
The Bill of Rights
The Declaration of Independence
The Preamble
19. What holiday was celebrated for the first
time by the American colonists?
Columbus Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Thanksgiving
The Articles of Confederation
15. Who becomes President if both the
President and Vice President die?
The Speaker of the House
The Secretary of the Treasury
President pro tempore of the Senate
20. What is the minimum voting age in the
United States?
18
21
16
35
The Secretary of State
16. What is the head executive of a city
government called?
Governor
Mayor
Congressman
Superintendent
21. What are the three branches of our
government?
Democratic, Republican, and Independent
Department of Justice, Department of
State, and Department of Defense
Senate, House of Representatives, and
Supreme Court
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
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22. Name some countries that were our
enemies during World War II.
Germany, Japan, and Switzerland
Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union
Germany, Italy, and France
Germany, Italy, and Japan
23. Who meets in the U.S. Capitol building?
The President
City Council
28. How many Senators are there in
Congress?
There are 100 Senators in Congress, 2
from each state.
There are 50 Senators in Congress.
There are 435 Senators in Congress.
The number is based on the size of the
population.
29. What do the stripes on the flag
represent?
Congress
One for each state in the Union
The Supreme Court
One for each Article of the Constitution
24. What colors are the stripes on the flag?
Red and blue
Blue and white
White
Red and white
25. For how long do we elect each Senator?
2 years
6 years
4 years
8 years
26. What is the highest part of the Judiciary
Branch of our Government?
The Constitution
The Supreme Court
The President
Congress
27. Who was President during the Civil War?
Thomas Jefferson
Abraham Lincoln
The first 13 states
One each for the Founding Fathers
30. Which President is called the "Father of
our Country"?
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington
George W. Bush
31. Where does freedom of speech come
from?
The President
The Bill of Rights
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Declaration of Independence
32. Name one of the purposes of the United
Nations.
For countries to discuss and try to resolve
world problems
To settle civil wars
To govern the world
To protect the United States
John F. Kennedy
George Washington
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
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33. What is the national anthem of the
United States?
38. In what year was the Constitution
written?
America, The Beautiful
1812
The Star-Spangled Banner
1787
This Land Is Your Land
1876
God Bless America
1776
34. What group has the power to declare
war?
Congress
The President
The Cabinet
39. What is the supreme law of the US?
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
The Magna Carta
The Bill of Rights
The Supreme Court
35. Who signs bills into law?
40. Whose rights are guaranteed by the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
The President
All people living in the United States
Congress
Registered voters
The Supreme Court
The President
The Senate
Native-born citizens
36. Who is Commander-in-Chief of the
United States military?
The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Vice President
41. Who elects Congress?
The Electoral College
The citizens of the United States
The Governors
The President and his Cabinet
The President
42. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
37. What are some of the basic beliefs of the
Declaration of Independence?
To escape the Revolutionary War
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion,
freedom of the press
In search of gold
That all men are created equal and have
the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness
To gain religious freedom
That there are three branches of
government
That there should be checks and balances
within the government
To meet the Indians
43. What is the most important right granted
to United States citizens?
Right to live in the United States
Right to work in the United States
Right to vote
Right to happiness
LEGIS: Legislative Education for Greater Inquiry and Study
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49. What were the 13 original states?
44. What special group advises the
President?
Advisory Board
The Cabinet
The Supreme Court
The electoral college
45. What color are the stars on our flag?
Blue
Gold
Red
White
46. What is the Constitution?
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York,
New Zealand, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York,
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, Maryland,
Washington, D.C.
Oath of allegiance
The supreme law of the land
50. Independence Day celebrates
independence from whom?
The Declaration of Independence
Great Britain
The Star-Spangled Banner
France
47. What were the 13 original states of the
United States called before they were
states?
Spain
Canada
Provinces
Regions
Colonies
Countries
48. What is the name of the President's
official home?
The Mayflower
Monticello
The White House
The United States Capitol
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