Author: AmericanTribute

4. What is an amendment?

4. What is an amendment?

  • Change (to the Constitution)
  • An addition (to the Constitution)

An amendment is a change or addition to the Constitution. The Framers of the Constitution knew that laws can change as a country grows. They did not want to make it too easy to modify the Constitution, the supreme law of the land. The Framers also did not want the Constitution to lose its meaning. For this reason, the Framers decided that Congress could pass amendments in only two ways: by a two-thirds vote in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives or by a special convention.

A special convention has to be requested by two-thirds of the states. After an amendment has passed in Congress or by a special convention, the amendment must then be ratified (accepted) by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

The amendment can also be ratified by a special convention in three-fourths of the states. Not all proposed amendments are ratified. Six times in U.S. history amendments have passed in Congress but were not approved by enough states to be ratified.

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

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3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

  • We the People

The Constitution says: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

With the words “We the People,” the Constitution states that the people set up the government. The government works for the people and protects the rights of people. In the United States, the power to govern comes from the people, who are the highest power.

This is called “popular sovereignty.” The people elect representatives to make laws.

 

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

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2. What does the Constitution do?

2. What does the Constitution do?

  • Sets up the government
  • Defines the government
  • Protects basic rights of Americans

The Constitution of the United States divides government power between the national government and state governments. The name for this division of power is “federalism.”

Federalism is an important idea in the Constitution. We call the Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitution the “Framers” of the Constitution.

The Framers wanted to limit the powers of the government, so they separated the powers into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

The Constitution explains the power of each branch. The Constitution also includes changes and additions, called “amendments.”

The first 10 amendments are called the “Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights established the individual rights and liberties of all Americans.

 

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

Download PDF

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

  • The Constitution

The Founding Fathers of the United States wrote the Constitution in 1787. The Constitution is the “supreme law of the land.” The U.S. Constitution has lasted longer than any other country’s constitution.

It establishes the basic principles of the United States government.

The Constitution establishes a system of government called “representative democracy.”

In a representative democracy, citizens choose representatives to make the laws. U.S. citizens also choose a president to lead the executive branch of government.

The Constitution lists fundamental rights for all citizens and other people living in the United States. Laws made in the United States must follow the Constitution.

 

** As you prepare for U.S. citizenship, Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons will help you study for the civics and English portions of the naturalization interview. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview, you will be asked up to 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. You must answer correctly six (6) of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

Download PDF

In the first 3 quarters of 2017, people originally from Mexico accounted 16.5% of the total of all the people who became naturalized citizens

In the first 3 quarters of 2017, people originally from Mexico accounted 16.5% of the total of all the people who became naturalized citizens

In the first 3 quarters of 2017, people originally from Mexico accounted for 77,655 of all the people who became naturalized citizens.
That is approximately 16.5% of the total.
Another large segment was people originally from Asia who accounted for 35.1% of the total.
The smallest representation was people origination from Republic of Guinea-Bissau (in West Africa) who only had 13 people become naturalized U.S. citizens.
We now call these folks our American brothers and sisters.

Has anybody ever asked you if you want to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen?

Has anybody ever asked you if you want to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen?

Has anybody ever asked you if you want to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen?
 
Did you tell them: “Well I don’t want to because it cost money”, or “I don’t want to because I have a green card and that is just fine”?
 
Well think about this:
 
As a permanent resident, as a “green card” holder as they say, you can still be deported.
You can also be denied entrance to the United States when you are returning back from a trip to another country.
 
Is that really what you want?
 
Or do you want the ability to come and go into and out of the United States whenever you wish? 
Do you want to know that no matter what happens to you in the United States no one is going to put you on a plane, and send you back to some other country?
 
The only way to guarantee that you are secure is to become a U.S. citizen.
 
You don’t know what the future holds, you don’t know when something will come up that will cause you to become ineligible to keep your green card. 
 
But one thing you can count on, the United States does not deport U.S. citizens. Think about it!
“President’s Day” contest to have your USCIS fees paid

“President’s Day” contest to have your USCIS fees paid

Make 2018 the year that you become a U.S. Citizen! American Tribute is sponsoring a “President’s Day” contest to have your USCIS fees paid when you submit your application for naturalization.

Make sure you read the complete rules before you enter!

  • You must have “liked” the Facebook page of American Tribute.
  • Enter by private messaging the Facebook page “American Tribute”.
  • You must include contact information (email or phone number) and the phrase:
    “I want to be an American, just like President ___________!” in the message. You can choose to insert the name of any of the 45 American Presidents.
  • You must be a permanent resident, live in the United States, and are otherwise eligible to naturalize.
  • You must not have a criminal record.
  • You must have a completed form N-400 or have all the information necessary to complete one.

A winner will be chosen by random drawing at 6 p.m. Central time on February 19, 2018 (“President’s Day”).

The winner will have until March 1, 2018 to confirm eligibility and prepare N-400 paperwork.

If the winner does not have a completed N-400 by March 1, 2018, the prize will expire. American Tribute reserves the right to select an alternate winner if the initial winner is ineligible.

This is not a cash prize – American Tribute will pay your USCIS fee to submit your form N-400 Application for Naturalization, but WILL NOT pay you any money directly.

The winner agrees to allow publication of their name and image on the American Tribute website and Facebook page, both after submitting their form and after they become a U.S. citizen.

This contest is not an offer of legal representation.

Determination of eligibility is subject to review by the Project Manager.

American Tribute is a project of FCM Enterprises, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

Why don’t you get rid of that green card, and move up to becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen?

Why don’t you get rid of that green card, and move up to becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen?

Why don’t you get rid of that green card, and move up to becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen?

Why would you want to do that?

Here’s one reason – you can vote.
A lot of people think voting is a burden, but it is not. Voting is your way of affecting how the laws are made in this country and which people run the government. This is extremely important; there are many countries all over the world whose citizens can’t vote. The people have no control over the laws or the government. So being able to vote is the number one reason for you to become a U.S. citizen.

Another reason to become a U.S. citizen would be to serve on a jury.
There are many people who think that’s also a burden, but if you are accused of a crime, wouldn’t you want someone like you on your jury? Someone who has been through the same experiences as you? The jury determines whether or not you are innocent or guilty – do you want to be judged by people who know nothing of your life?

One final reason has to do with your rights and responsibilities, that would be that most elected officials in this country can only be U.S. citizens.

So, if you vote that’s great, if you serve on a jury that’s terrific,
But if you really want to make some changes, if you really want to serve your fellow citizens, why don’t you run for office?

Well – you can’t do that until you become a U.S. citizen!

Here’s your number one reason to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen

Here’s your number one reason to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen

If you and your children are permanent residents – you all have green cards, here’s your number one reason to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen:

Here you go –

You have to study. Yes.

You have to pay a fee. Yes.

You have to speak English well enough to pass. Yes.

But if you do that, and if you pass, and if you become a U.S. citizen . . . and you have children living with you in the United States, under the age of 18, who are also “green card” holders, they automatically become U.S. citizens. No charge for the children!! No test for the children!!

Besides the savings, you will have the peace of mind to know that when your children turn 18, they will already be a U.S. citizen, with no chance of being deported. What other reason do you need to naturalize?

America values the contribution of immigrants

America values the contribution of immigrants

The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts the world.

America values the contribution of immigrants who continue to enrich this country and preserve its legacy as a land of freedom and opportunity.  When you make a decision to become a US Citizen it is one of the most important decision you’ll ever make.

If you decide to apply and become a US Citizen you’ll be showing your commitment to the United States and your loyalty to the constitution.

In return, you are rewarded with all the rights and privileges that are part of US Citizenship.