Dangnab it. Missed two -- the INS question and the voting amendment to the Constitution. Still, not bad for a Canadian. ;-) (And no, I'm not Canadian by birth either.....)

Got them all except for the INS thing (and why on earth is that there for? You don't need to know that to be a citizen for crying out loud!) I did have to laugh at one of the answers to the names of the original 13 colonies: New Zealand is listed!

When I was in JR HI we were required to take a civics class and pass a test in order to graduate. I learned a lot in that class (helped by a very politically minded dad), and am still amazed by how much people don't know about their country and government, and how little the schools teach civics any more (too much time spent teaching to the test....)

So, does anyone know any good books that teach about our country's history and government, without being dry?

I missed four, but I don't think that's bad for a Brit.

Didn't know the Chief Justice, I thought the Senate selected the Supreme court (seems like they merely ratify) and I thought the Prez could declare war. Nice to know that's wrong, actually! I was just lucky with the various questions about which amendment does what.

Oh, and I didn't get the IRS form.

I have a feeling that we did this a year or two ago, or something very similar, and I learnt a few things that time round.

>I thought the Senate selected the Supreme court (seems like they merely ratify)

Not merely ratify, as in rubber stamp. The Senate really does decide who gets in (which is why many folks voted Democrat this last election; they wanted a way to cancel out Bush's horrible selections)

>I thought the Prez could declare war.

Nope - he has to ask. The senate does so only after debate. Tho this last time around there was little debate; those opposed to it were afraid to be called 'terrorists'. If they had any backbone, we wouldn't be in this situation now.

I got three wrong, not bad considering my last civics class was ages ago. I made a lucky guess on the INS form.

Being a (lax) student of US politics and US history, I've always found it interesting how US presidents have been able to skirt around the constitutional limitation on declaring war. Yes, only Congress can declare war (and that's a good thing, really) but Truman got around that by calling Korea a "police action" and LBJ got around that with the Tonkin Gulf resolution.

My recent history's kind of hazy but how did Bush Sr. get to send troops to Panama? How did Reagan get to send troops to Grenada? I vaguely remember something about not requiring Congressional approval if the use of the troops does not exceed some predetermined amount of time?

Cindy-you are entitled to your point of view-but this forum is NOT about politics-some people might actually not agree with your comments.

sherwood38: Actually, Cindy is not only entitled to a point of view, but it is the essence of a citizen of a democracy to be critical of their government. You may disagree with her viewpoint, and but you should not deny her freedom to espouse it.

I am encouraged when I see threads like this, especially in these times of eroded personal freedoms.

Regards,
Bob

Got 100% althought I will admit I just guessed on a few. Having just received a large tax bill, I can't help but wonder if there shouldn't be some questions on paying taxes. At least for this citizen, that seems to be more important than answering questions about the government. There was no quiz with my tax bill, just a due date!

I laughed at the question about the INS form. Definitely guessed on that one, although it was fairly easy to narrow it down.

Bob-you might be encouraged-but the discussion of religion & politics is supposed to be verboten on this web site-that was my point!
I have participated in RP for more than 10 years and have seen members banished for less!

Oh for heaven's sakes; nothing I said was wrong. Just reported the facts ma'am. and I am sorry but when someone starts a topic like this one, not talking politics in some way is near impossible without it becoming droll. I wasn't trying to start a fight, just helping explain how our constitution works, or should work. Lighten up.

I do apologize if I have offended, sincerely apologize. But this is an issue that comes up now and then. When we talk about books, we inevitably need to discuss some issues around them. So its not out of line to talk politics or religion, nor should it be. No, we don't want this site to go down in flames; but I think we are intelligent people who know how to keep to the topic of the book and still be free to express oneself.

To get an off-topic post back on topic, here's how I figured out the answers:

1. Knew it

2. Obviously not Bush or Jefferson, but I knew it anyway. Gonzales is the current Attorney General.

3. I didn't know the exact date, but that it was after 1776 and before 1812.

4. Knew it. Right to bear arms is in the 2d amendment, trial by jury is in the body, and happiness is not anywhere in it.

5. Knew it.

6. Knew it. Third answer is a trick. See below.

7. Knew it. Too famous not to know.

8. Knew there's nothing about voting rights in the first ten, so it was no. 7.

9. Tricky. The one with NZ is obvious, but DC is not a state, and Kentucky is west of the Appalachians so it's not an original colony.

10. Knew it.

11. Knew it, but it's obvious. A preamble to something is an introduction.

12. Didn't know the exact number, but knew it was in the high 20s.

13. Knew it. Many presidents were never govenors.

14. Knew it. Congress confirms many appointmenst including general and flag officer promotions.

15. Knew it. Soon to be 437.

16. Knew it.

17. Knew it.

18. Knew it. Considerable debate over this. The president commands the armed forces, so he can deploy them at will. The War Powers Act says he has to seek permission from Congress if the deployment goes past 90 days. Only been five formal declarations of war in US history.

19. The trick question I warned about above. The form to apply for citizenship is the "application for citizenship."

20. Knew it. All of them are in the first amendment.

Cheers!

I got 90% which, frankly, I was quite happy with. (with which I was happy?)

On the sub-topic which has arisen on this thread, it seems to me that a discussion on practically any topic, if kept civil, polite, and intelligently reasoned should be welcomed. No ranting allowed.

Here in the UK, as everyone knows we don't have a written constitution and up until very recently have been very laid-back in our attitude towards newcomers arriving in our country.
Rather belatedly the Govt thought it might be a good idea if these long term visitors to our shores became a little more community spirited, tried to learn the language and understood that we wanted them to share our values and traditions.
Towards this end a test of Britishness/Nationality has been developed, foreigners are expected to make themselves familiar with our ways and customs and take the test and then attend a ceremony in which they become citizens of our Green and Pleasant Land.

Below are a number of questions taken from the recommended reading matter.
See how you do . . . and I didn't get them all right either. My excuse is I never read the book!

Here is a link that might be useful: Some Test Questions

Interesting quiz. I got six right: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12. At least I know what to do in a pub.

Great. I only got 6 out of 14 correct. I guess I'm less qualified to be British than I am to be an American! ;-)

Oh, well. I never did cotton on to vinegar on fries (or chips). I still prefer ketchup. (Or is it catsup?) ;-)

I got 10 out of 14 (guessed on a couple), and I DO like vinegar on my chips *G*

What an odd quiz - the government came up with those questions? Nothing about how laws are made, who votes and such? Tho they are rather funny if you assume, as I do, that they were written with tongue firmly in cheek

There's a book you're expected to read if you want to become a UK citizen; the BBC just put together a rather tongue-in-cheek quiz.

But they are absolutely right about the pub - you spill someone's drink, you buy them another one.

Having read Anthony Daniel's books about life in the UK, I was tempted by the third answer to question 8.

For the first question, it seems that all the answers would be correct.