Civics
Literacy Test
Charlie Earl
There
appears to be a lot of chatter about “low-information-voters (LIV)” on various
websites and broadcasts. I believe that uninformed participants do undermine
the republic…whether intentionally or inadvertently. I am aware that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1970
amendments to the Voting Rights Act
determined that literacy tests were forbidden as instruments for voter
registration or as a condition for casting ballots. So what? There is no law
that requires every other law to be sensible, rational and sane. So…why not
introduce a Civics Literacy Test that will be national in character but
state/local oriented in content. The test would be administered as a condition
of voter registration which would eliminate many of the haphazard schemes
currently in place for recording eligible voters. Some might argue that
notorious voter-registration wholesalers such as A.C.O.R.N. would subvert the
measure by “teaching to the test.” I have no problem with that approach because
voter knowledge of civic matters will increase even if incrementally, and some
will undoubted fail the test anyway.
THE CIVICS LITERACY
EXAM
1.
In
whose congressional district do you reside? (include four options).
2.
What
is your congressional district number? (4 options)
3.
Name
a United States Senator from your state. (four choices)
4.
The
three branches of government are: (4 choices)
5.
There
are ____ states in the United States of America. (4 options)
6.
The
Supreme Law of the Land is a document called: (choose 1 )
7.
The
United States form of government is: ¼
8.
What
are the two houses of Congress? (choose 1 of 4)
9.
Presidential
elections are held every ___ years. (choose 1 of 4)
10.
How
long is the term for a member of the House of Representatives? (4 options)
11.
The
Chief Executive Office of the state is: (4)
12.
How
many U.S. Senators represent your state?
13.
School
Boards are considered to be ______ entities. (Federal, state, regional, local)
14.
Which
war secured the United States’ independence from Great Britain? (4 choices)
15.
How
many colonies united to form the United States of America? (4 choices)
To achieve a passing grade I suggest that a respondent should
achieve a score of 80% or 12 correct answers. I fully understand that some will
argue: 1.The test is unnecessary; 2. The test is too difficult; 3. The test is
racially/economically/ideologically biased; 4. The test is too easy; 5. The
test has no ideological or philosophical questions; 6. The test will be too
costly to administer.
Perhaps some clown will argue that there aren’t enough people
who know the answers to grade the test which is why I used this format so that
a “bubble test” could be used and graded by computer. Each congressional
district would require a different answer sheet, but that administrative detail
is easily overcome.
Admittedly I’m realistic enough to know that there will be a
snowball fight in Hades before such an extreme concept is introduced into our
national or state voting systems. The easiness of the exam and the likelihood
that many would fail it are the strongest arguments for its use. We could
implement a graduated scale for reporting test results:
15 correct= solid citizen
12-14 correct= barely functional voter
10-11 correct= lucky idiot
8-9 correct= uninformed odds-player
6-7 correct= preparing for 3rd grade competency
test
4-5 correct= civic talents of a blind hog
2-3 correct= Democrat
0-1
correct=
progressive or illegal alien (aka: undocumented welfare recipient).
This test is not comprehensive, but it should be a fair
measurement of a potential voter’s knowledge of our political structure.
Personally I would prefer an exam that tested for the individual’s
understanding of the principles that were instrumental in our founding. Maybe
it will happen someday, or perhaps people who take this exam will become more curious
and teach their children. It’s a dream.
Charlie Earl
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