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Surprise! The Trump admin just released a new civics test that all aspiring US citizens must pass if applying after Dec 1.Quoth DHS: "offering a fair test...is of upmost [sic] importance to our agency."
Let's look at what's changing...
1/ https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-a-revised-naturalization-civics-test
Superficially, the 60% threshold for correct answers is the same.
But studying the new 128 (more complicated) questions will be harder than studying the old 100 (more straightforward) questions.
And scoring 12/20 will be harder than scoring 6/10.
2/ https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/the-2020-version-of-the-civics-test/128-civics-questions-and-answers-2020-version
But studying the new 128 (more complicated) questions will be harder than studying the old 100 (more straightforward) questions.
And scoring 12/20 will be harder than scoring 6/10.
2/ https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/the-2020-version-of-the-civics-test/128-civics-questions-and-answers-2020-version
But the new civics test isn't just more difficult for no apparent reason—it also contains straight-up errors.
Q: Who does a Senator represent?
Old test: "All people of the state" [true]
New test: "Citizens of their state" [ideologically extreme & not true!]
3/
![But the new civics test isn't just more difficult for no apparent reason—it also contains straight-up errors.Q: Who does a Senator represent?Old test: "All people of the state" [true]New test: "Citizens of their state" [ideologically extreme & not true!]3/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Emu7izDXMAAg7Np.png "But the new civics test isn't just more difficult for no apparent reason—it also contains straight-up errors.Q: Who does a Senator represent?Old test: \"All people of the state\" [true]New test: \"Citizens of their state\" [ideologically extreme & not true!]3/")
![But the new civics test isn't just more difficult for no apparent reason—it also contains straight-up errors.Q: Who does a Senator represent?Old test: "All people of the state" [true]New test: "Citizens of their state" [ideologically extreme & not true!]3/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Emu7kFRW4AANuIa.png "But the new civics test isn't just more difficult for no apparent reason—it also contains straight-up errors.Q: Who does a Senator represent?Old test: \"All people of the state\" [true]New test: \"Citizens of their state\" [ideologically extreme & not true!]3/")
Q: Who does a Senator represent?
Old test: "All people of the state" [true]
New test: "Citizens of their state" [ideologically extreme & not true!]
3/
Test-takers are now required to describe only one Constitutional amendment. Guess which?
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10th! The conservative movement's cause celebre!
4/
https://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/10/tenth.amendment.movement/index.html
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10th! The conservative movement's cause celebre!
4/
https://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/10/tenth.amendment.movement/index.html
New question: "Why is the Electoral College important?"
2 acceptable answers:
"It decides who is elected president."
"It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection."
Is that all?
5/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/electoral-college-racist-origins/601918/
2 acceptable answers:
"It decides who is elected president."
"It provides a compromise between the popular election of the president and congressional selection."
Is that all?
5/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/electoral-college-racist-origins/601918/
Old test: Name one important thing about Franklin & Lincoln.
New test: Adds Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, and...Eisenhower?
Nothing against Eisenhower, but that's a rather curious call over FDR.
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New test: Adds Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, and...Eisenhower?
Nothing against Eisenhower, but that's a rather curious call over FDR.
6/
In fairness, this isn't a new question, but why wasn't it updated?
The US gov't fought over a dozen "Indian Wars" in the 1800s, per @USArmyCMH.
7/
https://history.army.mil/html/reference/army_flag/iw.html
The US gov't fought over a dozen "Indian Wars" in the 1800s, per @USArmyCMH.
7/
https://history.army.mil/html/reference/army_flag/iw.html
The new civics test is unnecessary, unjustified, overly complex, & shamelessly ideological.
This is an obvious attempt to throw one more obstacle in front of immigrants legally eligible for US citizenship.
The Biden admin can & should immediately restore the current test.
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This is an obvious attempt to throw one more obstacle in front of immigrants legally eligible for US citizenship.
The Biden admin can & should immediately restore the current test.
8/
More info here—including a civics quiz & a Rand family heirloom...
9/9 https://twitter.com/doug_rand/status/1326298129306628096
9/9 https://twitter.com/doug_rand/status/1326298129306628096
