March 30, 2011
While budget work continues and Ways and Means Democrats struggle to find ways to build a budget with billions of dollars in cuts, we reach another deadline. Opposite house bills must be out of the House and Senate fiscal committees (Ways and Means, Transportation, and Capital Budget) by the end of the week. If a bill has a fiscal impact, in this case, allowing us to make budget reductions, it can be considered up to the day we adjourn. I can’t explain how difficult it is to find more and more cuts. And with the state’s economy showing little sign of rebounding soon, we must leave a healthy reserve to meet our needs and avoid a rash of special sessions. Needless to say, this is not an enjoyable time in the Legislature.
The only bit of good news is that the House and Senate have passed ESSB 5124 which will make Washington the second state in the nation to become an entirely vote by mail state. As the sponsor of the House version of this bill for the last five years, I am glad to see us reach this milestone. I fully expect Governor Gregoire to sign this bill, which is also request legislation from Secretary of State Sam Reed.
So, in a lighter vein, and to take our minds off the budget mess, I thought a quiz would be a good idea. The U.S. Citizenship test is a 100 question test that covers American government, systems of government, rights and responsibilities, American history, and civics. How do you think you would do taking such a test? In a recent survey conducted for Newsweek, 62% of Americans passed—38% failed. Want to try? Go ahead…there are no “trick” questions. (I missed two—20 and 25.) The percentages indicate the score on each item.
1. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? (67% correct)
2. What happened at the Constitutional Convention? (35% correct)
3. Who was President during World War I? (20% correct)
4. Who did the US fight in World War II? (60% correct)
5. The US House of Representatives has how many members? (14% correct!)
6. When must all men register for Selective Service? (83% correct)
7. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? (27% correct)
8. What did Susan B. Anthony do? (41% correct)
9. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do? (77% correct)
10. Who is in charge of the executive branch? (73% correct)
11. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? (39% correct)
12. If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? (58% correct)
13. Under out Constitution some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? (19% correct)
14. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? (37% correct)
15. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? (57% correct)
16. What is the supreme law of the land? (30% correct)
17. Name one US territory. (57% correct)
18. The idea of self government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are those words? (74% correct)
19. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? (65% correct)
20. How many amendments does the Constitution have? (6% correct)
21. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? (71% correct)
22. What is the name of the Speaker of the House now? (41% correct)
23. What is the economic system of the United States? (33% correct)
24. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? (91%)
25. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U. S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. (12% correct)
Now it is worth asking if you think we need more civics and history in our school curriculum. Since these subjects are often not included in the many standardized tests grade school and high school students must take, there has been a decrease in course offerings in many schools. While these test results—like every test—are not final and concrete proof, it certainly raises questions.
Answers? Do you need answers? I tried to take up some space so you would have to scroll down to look for one. So here goes:
1. July 4, 1776
2. The Constitution was written
3. Woodrow Wilson
4. Japan, Germany, and Italy
5. 435
6. 18 or between 18 and 26
7. Communism
8. Fought for women’s rights or fought for civil rights
9. Fought for civil rights or worked for equality for all Americans
10. The President
11. Six
12. The Speaker of the House
13. To print money, to declare war, to create an army, or to make treaties
14. Nine
15. The Bill of Rights
16. The Constitution
17. Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marianas, U.S. Virgin Islands
18. “We the people”
19. The Louisiana Territory or Louisiana
20. 27
21. Joe Biden
22. John Boehner
23. Capitalist or market economy
24. Pacific
25. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, or Publius
Hope you enjoyed this. I will send you grim details on the budget when they become public.
In This Issue
A Quiz
Contact
MAIL
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504
PHONE
(360) 786-7992
1 (800) 562.6000 toll free
1 (800) 635-9993 TTY-TDD (hearing impaired)
EMAIL
sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov
WEBSITE
My home page