The American Government class is on schedule to complete their last month of their high school career. One of the final tasks they need to complete is taking the United States Citizenship Civics Test. It is a state law that the Seniors must meet one of the requirements stated in the statute. Lexington High School requires the civics test that is stated in Nebraska statute 79-724-1-(i), “Administration of a written test that is identical to the entire civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services prior to the completion of the twelfth grade.”

The students have prepared by studying the United States government in various activities. One of the more important lessons is to study the U.S. Constitution in detail. By studying every clause and amendment, then summarizing the information they can remember the most important facts. One activity is on Fridays we take an online practice test to check for understanding of the information they have learned that week and review prior lessons. The students have made outstanding progress in retaining the information they have learned in the semester of American Government.

Here are some of the sample questions of the Citizenship Test:

• Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
• The words “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are in what founding document?
• What is the economic system of the United States?
• What is the rule of law?
• Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
• There are three branches of government. Why?