Category: US Citizenship

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.

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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.

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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!
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.

Children sworn in as new U.S. citizens in Salt Lake City

Children sworn in as new U.S. citizens in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY — (KUTV) – Ten children in Utah, who come from all over the world, have entered 2018 as new citizens of the United States.

They took the Oath of Allegiance and were sworn in last week at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Salt Lake City, in a ceremony that was at times high energy, at times solemn.

“How about another round of applause?” said a man from Samoa who greeted the kids and their families. “Who’s from Ethiopia?”

A girl stood as the audience clapped, followed by other children who hail from Mexico, Taiwan, China, Peru and other countries.

“It feels pretty cool and amazing that now I’m an American citizen,” said 10-year-old Haitham Layth Mohammed Ali, whose family left Iraq when he was two.

A relative of his family said Haitham’s father serves in the U.S. Army.

The oath the kids recited had some words not often used on the playground. Part of it read, ‘I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen…’

Haitham said he did not know “all” the words.

“There were a lot of big words there,” 2News noted.

“Tough for a fifth grader,” he replied with a smile.

Some of the kids’ parents recently became citizens themselves.

Now, as one of the youngest and newest Americans, Haitham has an American dream.

A fan of Steph Curry and LeBron James, he said, “My dream is to succeed in my dream as a basketball player.”

Source link: http://kutv.com/news/local/children-sworn-in-as-us-citizens-in-utah-ceremony

70. Who was the first President?*

70. Who was the first President?*

  • (George) Washington

George Washington was the first president of the United States. He began his first term in 1789.
He served for a second term beginning in 1793. Washington played an important role in forming the new nation and encouraged Americans to unite.

He also helped define the American presidency. He voluntarily resigned from the presidency after two terms. He set an example for future leaders in his own country and the world by voluntarily giving up power.

The tradition of a president serving no more than two terms continued in the United States until Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected to office four times (1933–1945). The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1947, now limits presidents to two terms.

** 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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69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?

69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?

  • (George) Washington

George Washington is called the Father of Our Country. He was the first American president. Before that, he was a brave general who led the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

After his victory over the British Army, Washington retired to his farm in Virginia named Mount Vernon. He left retirement to help create the new country’s system of government.

He presided over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.

* Important Updates to the Naturalization Test
USCIS has revised the civics portion of the naturalization test. All applicants for naturalization with a filing date on or after December 1, 2020, will be required to take the 2020 version of the civics test.

The naturalization test has two components:
• English • Civics
The English portion has not changed.

** 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