Constitution and Citizenship Day, 2023
On Constitution and Citizenship Day, we commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution and recognize, in the words of President Harry S. Truman, “all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have attained the full status of citizenship.... ”
What causes more people to come to the United States than any other country in the world?
What compels over 6,900 people to take the Oath of Allegiance in over 130 naturalization ceremonies on Constitution week—completing the roughly 7-year journey to becoming a U.S. citizen?
I believe the freedom and rights we enjoy in this country make it uniquely attractive to millions of people. These rights and freedoms are made possible by our Constitution.
It’s no secret that naturalized citizens often know and appreciate the Constitution better than those who are born here! Perhaps it’s because in order to become a U.S. citizen, you must understand our basic founding principles, which are included in the citizenship exam. In fact, you cannot become a citizen unless you are willing to defend the U.S. Constitution.
Prospective citizens who study our Constitution, history, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens can’t help but realize that our country is a precious treasure. Ronald Reagan, in his famous speech, “A Time for Choosing,” told this story:
“Not too long ago, two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story one of my friends turned to the other and said, 'We don't know how lucky we are.' And the Cuban stopped and said, 'How lucky you are? I had someplace to escape to.' And in that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.”
The U.S. citizenship exam teaches what exceptional Americans like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr. did to make this country a place where millions can escape to freedom.
It also explains our rights, how our government is structured, and the limits placed on it that are meant to preserve our freedom.
Do you think you could pass the exam? Prospective citizens are asked 10 out of 100 possible questions. They have to get 6 correct in order to pass. Because we are researchers who love American civics and history, we chose 15 questions for your quiz!
As you take the quiz, I hope you have a renewed appreciation for our Constitution and our country! And maybe celebrate by reading the Constitution, making sure your voter registration is up to date, and thanking God for the blessing of being an American.
Take our U.S. Citizenship Quiz!
In honor of Constitution and Citizenship Day, join me next Monday for a free, 8-week online course called Biblical Citizenship in Modern America, hosted by iVoterGuide and Patriot Academy. You’ll learn fascinating facts of how the Bible influenced our founding principles and the Constitution, plus live Q & A with special guests like David and Tim Barton, Brad Stine, and others. Invite your pastor and church members to register, too! The course runs every Monday night on Zoom from September 25—November 13, but you can access the recordings if you can’t make every class. It's not too late to register now and be equipped along with like-minded people to live out your calling as a biblical citizen!
