Could you pass the U.S. citizenship test?

• Author: Potenza, Alessandra
• Position: NATIONAL

For those of us who were born here, American citizenship is something we often take for granted. Birthright citizenship is automatic, no test required. But for those not born in the U.S., it's a lot harder to become a citizen.

While the debate over illegal immigration and overhauling the nation's immigration system continues in Congress, more than 680,000 people become naturalized citizens each year--at the end of a long, often bumpy, journey. To be eligible for naturalization, applicants must be permanent residents of the U.S. for at least five continuous years (three if married to a U.S. citizen); have no criminal record; undergo security checks; and pass a speaking, reading, and writing test of English proficiency.

The final step for prospective citizens is a civics exam covering American history, government, and democracy. Applicants are asked 10 questions from a list of 100 and must answer at least six correctly to pass. (If they fail twice, they can pay the $680 fee to reapply.) The current naturalization test has a 92 percent pass rate.

Now let's see how you stack up. Though the civics exam is oral and has open-ended questions, we've made it a little easier for you by making it multiple-choice. Try answering these questions from the test, and see if you have what it takes to earn American citizenship. *

American Government

1. What do you call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?

   (A) the Bill of Rights

   (B) the Preamble of Rights

   (C) the Freedom Rights

2. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

   (A) 32

   (B) 50

   (C) 27

3. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

   (A) Congress

   (B) the President

   (C) the Chief Justice

4. In what month do we vote for President?

   (A) October

   (B) January

   (C) November

5. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

   (A) the Speaker of the House

   (B) the First Lady

   (C) the Secretary of State

6. Who is the current Chief Justice of the United States?

   (A) Barack Obama

   (B) John Roberts

   (C) John Boehner

7. What is one right or freedom protected by the First Amendment?

   (A) religion

   (B) privacy

   (C) public trial

8. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

   (A) the Constitution

   (B) the President

   (C) the United States

9. How old do citizens have to he to vote for President?

   (A) 16 and older

   (B) 18 and older

   (C) 21 and older

   American History

10. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

    (A) Thomas Jefferson

    (B) George Washington

    (C) Alexander Hamilton

11. ...