A Proud American by Choice

I wasn't born in the United States.  My family immigrated to the US in 1955.  My mother, brother, Auntie Pam and I sailed from England on the Ile de France to New York.  From there we flew to Los Angeles to join my father and Uncle Colin.  I have an alien registration card, also know as a green card, that documents my legal admission to the United States in May, 1955.  My alien registration card is so old that it is actually green.  The newer ones are blue, but are still called green cards.

I am an American by choice, not by birth and I am grateful for the blessings that this country has given me and my family.  Both of my parents went through the naturalization process to become American citizens.  I claimed US citizenship based on their status as citizens.  I didn't have to take the citizenship test.

Generally people applying for US citizenship must take a 10 question test to demonstrate their knowledge across five categories: American government, systems of government, rights and responsibilities, American history, and integrated civics.   The test questions are drawn from a list of 100 questions and the applicant must correctly answer six of the ten questions to pass.

Here is a sample test of 10 questions.  See how many you can get right.



1.  Name 3 rights of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

2.  Who has the power to declare war?

3.  What kind of government does the United States have?


4.  Which President freed the slaves?

5. In what year was the Constitution written?

6. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?

7. Name one purpose of the United Nations?

8. Where does Congress meet?

9. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

10. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?

Remember you need to get  six out of 10 questions correct.  Here are the answers. 

1.   Name 3 rights of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

The right of freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and requesting change of government.

The right to bear arms (the right to have weapons or own a gun, though subject to certain regulations).

The government may not quarter, or house, soldiers in the people's homes during peacetime without the people's consent.

The government may not search or take a person's property without a warrant.

A person may not be tried twice for the same crime and does not have to testify against him/herself.

A person charged with a crime still has some rights, such as the right to a trial and to have a lawyer.

The right to trial by jury in most cases.

Protects people against excessive or unreasonable fines or cruel and unusual punishment.

The people have rights other than those mentioned in the Constitution.

Any power not given to the federal government by the Constitution is a power of either the state or the people.

2.  Who has the power to declare  war?

The Congress

3.  What kind of government does the United States have?

Democracy

4. Which President freed the slaves?

Abraham Lincoln

5.  In what year was the Constitution written?

1787

6. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?

The Bill of Rights

7. Name one purpose of the United Nations?

For countries to discuss and try to resolve world problems, to provide economic aid to many countries.

8. Where does Congress meet?

In the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

9. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

Everyone (citizens and non-citizens) living in U.S.

10. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?

The Preamble

Regardless of how you gained your citizenship status, take a few moments this 4th of July to celebrate the birth of our country.  I am grateful to my adopted home for the opportunities that were available to me because I am a citizen of this great nation.

Happy 4th of July!