Arizona high school students will be required to pass a civics test in order to graduate, thanks to legislation that passed the state House and Senate in a single day.
The 100-question test isn't an ad hoc endeavor solely made for students. It's a first-of-its-kind law utilizing the same U.S. Immigration and Naturalization test taken by undocumented individuals seeking citizenship.
While groups backing the bill cite lackluster civics scores - and a 2011 Annenberg Public Policy Center survey that found only 15 percent of Americans could identify John Roberts as chief justice of the Supreme Court - others question whether it aims to single out Hispanic voters, much like Southern black voters were given complicated quizzes in the 1960s.
Another concern is how schools will implement the curriculum, or if lesson plan changes need to be made. Aside from the fact that social studies and history teachers nationwide already teach material, they will be given full control over how the material and test will be given.
Take a look at a few of questions that await Arizona students. Answers can be found at the bottom.
1. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
a. Fought for women's rights
b. The first woman elected to the House of Representatives
c. Founded the Red Cross
d. Made the first flag of the United States
2. Name one branch or part of the government.
a. United Nations
b. Legislative
c. State government
d. Parliament
3. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
a. Herbert Hoover
b. Franklin Roosevelt
c. Harry Truman
d. Calvin Coolidge
4. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
a. Create an army
b. Make treaties
c. Provide schooling and education
d. Coin or print money
5. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
a. The President
b. The Chief Justice
c. The Speaker of the House
d. The Prime Minister
6. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
a. Secretary of Weather and Secretary of Energy
b. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of the Navy
c. Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of the Treasury
d. Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of History
7. How long is a U.S. Senator's term?
a. 2 years
b. 4 years
c. 6 years
d. 8 years
8. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
a. Benjamin Franklin
b. John Jay
c. John Adams
d. Thomas Jefferson
Answers: 1. a, 2. b, 3. b, 4. c, 5. a, 6. c, 7. c, 8. d