Oh, say can you ace new citizen test?

By Mary Lou Pickel
COX NEWS SERVICE

September 21, 2008

Are you smart enough to be a citizen?

This is Constitution Week, during which time the government plans to naturalize 39,000 new citizens, said Chris Rhatigan, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Constitution was signed Sept. 17, 1789.

The final hoop for attaining citizenship may become a little easier next month. The government has overhauled the U.S. citizenship test for the first time in more than 20 years and will debut a new exam Oct. 1.

Those starting the citizenship process on that date and beyond will take the new quiz.
The revamped test consists of 100 possible questions and is supposed to emphasize the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, more than rote learning of historical facts, like who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.â€