Could many natural-born Americans pass a citizenship test?

To the editor: Testing potential residents on civics is okay. However what number of present residents might move the American citizenship examination? (“U.S. citizenship check adjustments are coming, elevating issues for these with low English expertise,” July 6)

In a single 2017 survey, 37% couldn’t title a single proper assured by the first Modification, and solely 26% might title the three branches of presidency. One-third couldn’t even title one department.

In 2019, the nonpartisan Knight Fee on Belief, Media and Democracy unanimously beneficial that, as a typical for civic literacy (although not a requirement for commencement), all highschool graduates ought to have the ability to move the American citizenship examination.

Our new residents, taken collectively, are seemingly extra knowledgeable on American civics than most native-born People.

Charlie Firestone, Santa Barbara

The author is the previous govt director of the Knight Fee.

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To the editor: I hardly imagine the adjustments to the naturalization check to turn out to be a U.S. citizen shall be an impediment for many immigrants. The lengthy, storied historical past of immigrants on this nation is stuffed with folks overcoming obstacles to turn out to be productive members of our nation.

The true story needs to be what number of of our personal residents might move this examination. Based mostly upon latest occasions in our nation’s political panorama, it could be a dismally low quantity.

As of at this time, I have no idea of a single faculty district that has passage of this examination as a requirement for a highschool diploma. This truth is counter to the very cause we’ve got a public training system on this nation — to create an knowledgeable voters.

Jason Y. Calizar, Torrance