when did memorial day become a national holiday

National retail sales figures indicate that Halloween is the 6th biggest holiday for retailers — behind Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day — and rapidly gaining ground, particularly among young adults. The trend has now sparked a movement of ... Most recently this occurred about 40 years ago when the Federal government moved several established holidays such as Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day to Mondays. ...... President of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. “I call on all Americans to participate in our Build the Dream: Countdown to Completion phase of the fundraising campaign by donating $1 or more to become a part of history.” ... King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. Congress established Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a U.S. national holiday in 1986. ...In National Cemeteries, volunteers place an American flag on each grave. Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. ... In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. ...The Government generally did not enforce existing legal restrictions on religious freedom. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the reporting period. ... The Government observes January 6, the day on which the Armenian Church celebrates Christmas, as a national holiday. During the year, the Government designates, through its decrees, five church observances as official Monday holidays, during which it is customary to ...Rather than parades, it would be better to celebrate this holiday like the British used to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day – by burning politicians in effigy, or a reasonable facsimile. Too harsh? Read the Pentagon Papers – and recognize the proper ... All the wars since at least WW2 have NOT been self defense, these have all been aggressions. The U.S. has killed millions of innocent people in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq. Those people never attacked the U.S. So why did we kill them? ...Is Columbus Day a federal holiday? Yes it is. Christopher Columbus was the man who discovered the new world on 12th October 1492. The day is celebrated as. ... The Columbus Day was announced as the memorial of Columbus who stepped on the soil in New York on 12th October 1942, at San Salvador Island also known as Waitling Island, which is now, belongs to British Bahamas. In 1890s, the President Benjamin announced the Columbus Day to be celebrated for the people of United ...Meanwhile, servicemembers past and present, plus family members and other spectators cheered riders on as the convoy roared from the Pentagon parking lot to the National Mall here ahead of tomorrow's Memorial Day observance. ... You sure did a great job on this post WT. I enjoyed the videos. It was neat seeing President Bush wearing a biker vest. Artie Mueller publically berating the Democrats and Nancy Pelosi was fantastic. Rolling Thunder has become a gigantic event and ...The optimism that comes with the upcoming Pesach holiday atmosphere has passed . we are now in semi mourning because of the Sefirah period -in addition we have Yom Hashoa,Holocaust Day and Yom Hazikaron,Memorial Day coming up. Then there is yom Ha'Atzmaut that will be a bit of a ... I felt that my job was to provide God with a little exra time time -to show my faith ,so that if God wanted to save this piece of Eretz Yisrael -at least I did all I could to enable this. ...It is now a national holiday - a day of remembrance for the Dirty War that would follow in the wake of the coop. I have become fascinated with the Guerra Suciar, (Dirty War) been doing a lot of reading and when I can, talking to people about it. ... If you Google Dirty War (or click because I did it for you) you can read for decades about this. I just wanted to say that we might think we are in a huge, devastating crisis, but the people of Argentina are laughing at us. ...Kingdom celebrates Chulalongkorn Day Pattaya Mail Fond memories of HM King Chulalongkorn the Great Today, Friday, October 23, the Kingdom of Thailand observes Chulalongkorn Day. It is a national holiday, and as such, all banks and most .... They become fascinated and asks if its possible to build a memorial site. 1994 The Swedish state, in cooperation with Thailand, starts the construction of a memorial pavilion. His Majesty the King of Thailand graciously sent both monks ...
Its Almost Memorial Day Woo!
Please Restate Your Answer So I Know What Cha Talking About
And This Is A SERIOS Topic So Don't Joke Around!
Bonus Question:How Did Decoration Day Get Started?Its History And How Its Celebrated And Why?
When Did Memorial Day Become A National Holiday?
Wheres The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier? When Was It Created? Who Is In It?
What Does One Do To Become A Guard?
How Do They Guard The Tomb?
When Do They Guard The Tomb?
How Long Does It Take For A Guard To Get Ready?
How Many Steps Does The Guard Take During His Walk?
How Many Seconds Does He Face The Tomb
Why Are His Gloves Wet?
Where Does He Carry his Riffle?
What Are Required Physical Traits Of A Guard?
Tell Me About His Shoes?!?!
What Does A Solder do To Become A Guard And Allow A Walk?
How Often Are The Guards Changed?
The Tomb Guard Idenification badge Is Awarded After The Sentinel Has Passed A Series Of Tests And Served For Nine Months. How Many Of These Badges Have Been Awarded?
I Use Y!A For Research And Those Are Bonus I Just Need One Answer For One Question JEEZ!
**** You People I Only Need ONE Answer For ONE Question!
Which Is What Are The Five Branches Of The Military And Their Subbranches And What Are Their Main Responsibilities?!?!?


Why Can't you:
Celebrate Mother's Day
Celebrate Father's Day
Celebrate Grandparent's Day
Celebrate Birthdays
Celebrate Thanksgiving
Celebrate New Year's Eve or Day
Celebrate Christmas
Celebrate Halloween
Celebrate Easter
Celebrate Flag Day
Celebrate Independence Day (Fourth of July)
Celebrate Hanukkah
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day
Celebrate Valentine's Day
Celebrate "Any" Holiday
Sing any Holiday Songs
Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving
Create Holiday artwork in school
Join the Boy Scouts
Join the Girl Scouts
Buy Girl Scout Cookies
Become a Cheerleader
Attend class reunions (No "Worldly" association)
Go to the school prom
Play School Sports (No competition allowed)
Play Professional Sports
Join any organization that has ties to Christianity
Shop at the Salvation Army
Volunteer for the Salvation Army
Donate to Relief Organizations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Charities and more
Shop at Church run thrift stores
Shop at Church Garage Sales
Shop at any Store that has Christian ties
Contribute to the Red Cross
Attend a Church School
Join the YMCA
Join the Military
Become a Police Officer
Attend Alcoholics Anonymous
Have any job with a gun
Strike against a Company
Salute the Flag
Can't Stand at Public Events while others are Standing to salute the Flag
Sing the National Anthem
Go to War
Wear Clothing Associated with War; e.g. Combats or Army Tops
Learn karate
Vote (Conscience matter now to please Governments, you will be ostracized if you do)
Run for any Public Office
Campaign for a Candidate
Contribute to the Presidential Campaign Fund on your tax return
Can join union, but not participate in its affairs
Run for class president
Join Sororities or Fraternities
Participate in holiday parties at school
Buy lottery tickets
Gamble
Play Bingo
Can't buy a raffle ticket
Date without supervision - young or old
Watch R rated movies
Cannot work on another Church if it's a regular customer
Own a religious picture or statue
Smoke cigarettes, pipes or a cigars
Sell cigarettes, pipes or a cigars
Accept Blood
Donate Blood
Store your own blood before an operation
Wear blue jeans or casual clothes to the Kingdom Hall
Wear pants to the Kingdom Hall if you are a female
Wear skirts or dresses that are above the knee at any time
Wear any type of long hair if you are a man
Wear a beard in some Kingdom Halls and areas (judged hard)
Pierce ears if male, other body parts if female
Have any tattoos
Say curse words
Can't be hypnotized
Get divorced unless scriptural (adultery or fornication is committed by one partner) if you do divorce cannot remarry unless ex fornicates first
Toast drinks (pagan origin)
Throw rice at a wedding (pagan origin)
Say "Bless You" when someone sneezes
Say "Good Luck!", "Wish me Luck", "I was Lucky" or "You were Lucky"
Tell ghost stories
Practice Yoga
Own a Smurf
Eat Lucky Charms Cereal (References to Magical)
Throw a penny into a wishing well
Read Horoscopes
Promote anything Superstitious
Have wind charms because they represent a pagan symbol for scaring away demons
Watch TV shows, "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch", "Touched by an Angel", or "Bewitched"
Say "It was fate" or mention anything to do with "fate"
Engage in any risky acts such as: Sky Diving, Bungie Jumping & Hang Gliding
Have Jesus as your Mediator and Savior
Can't partake in the Memorial of Jesus' death, by eating the unleavened bread or drinking the wine; only allowed if you are from the elite group of the 144,000
A woman can't hold a position of responsibility in the congregation
Wear or own a Cross
Attend another Church (Spiritual Fornication)
Associate on a regular basis with nonbelievers
Associate with ex-members
Associate with disfellowshipped ones
Talk with disfellowshipped ones
Sue another Jehovah's Witness
Marry a nonbeliever (If you do, you are judged hard by the congregation)
Marry in another Church or attend a wedding in another Church
Have a funeral in another Church or attend a funeral in another Church
Pray, including holding your head down, when a nonbeliever prays
Study other religious articles not from the Society
Read negative information about the Society
Question the Watchtower Society on anything
Exercise your on conscience if it goes against the religion
Question the Society or the Organization
Have Christian freedom
If you are a woman you can't pray aloud in the presence of men, without a covering on your head
If you are sick and need alternative medical help you can't get illegal medicines from another country


When do you think 9/11 will become an official holiday? I know from prior posts that people are going to say holidays are for celebration, but holiday's aren't necessarily for celebration--i.e. Memorial Day, President's Day, and Martin Luther King Day which are all to commemorate and/or reflect on those who have sacrificed their lives for our sake.

Then the Pearl Harbor issue, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to those killed at Pearl Harbor; however, they were soldiers killed at a military installation during an active War. (Just because the US wasn't involved- doesn't mean there wasn't a world war going on at the time). 9/11 saw the killing of citizens (men, women, and children)far from military service operations during a time of peace.

So with these arguments presented, what do you think? Should 9/11 become a national holiday?


I will, Lest we forget

Not bad for a little country

Wednesday April 23, 04:23 PM
Anzac is a name enshrined in our history

Enlarge image

As New Zealand prepares to honour its war dead on the country's 93rd Anzac Day on Friday, Ian Stuart of NZPA looks at some of the names, terms and traditions which have grown from the day of remembrance.

Twenty-one-year-old soldier Keith Little had no idea of the tradition he was about to put a name to when he ordered a rubber stamp in December, 1914.

Five months before the disastrous Gallipoli campaign moulded two nations, the Wellington-born journalist-turned soldier was a clerk at the headquarters of Lieutenant General William Birdwood, the British commanding officer of the joint Australian and New Zealand force that had assembled in Egypt.

The Australasian Corps had been suggested as the name for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers preparing for Gallipoli but was rejected.

Little was believed to have come up with the name ANZAC -- the Australian New Zealand Army Corps.

ADVERTISEMENT


The name became part of military history and has become the heart of much of what the two countries stand for and what their soldiers, survivors and their families and friends went through at Gallipoli and military conflicts that followed.

In August, 1916, only a few months after Gallipoli was evacuated, a law was passed prohibiting the use of the word `Anzac' in business or trade promotions, further enshrining the Anzac legend and the sanctity of the commemoration. April 25 became a public holiday in 1921.

Some memorable terms, traditions and names include: -

ANZAC DAY: Now a national holiday and a national day of remembrance for all casualties of war.

APRIL 25, 1915: The day New Zealand and Australian troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula and died in their thousands.

ANZAC COVE: The beach where troops landed and hugged the sand hills as Turkish defenders put up a murderous fire to drive them back.

CHUNUK BAIR: The top of the ridge which was taken briefly by soldiers of the Wellington Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone before the Turkish soldiers regrouped, counter-attacked and threw the New Zealanders off. The New Zealanders got further than any other Allied troops and were the only ones to see the Narrows. Malone was killed during the Chunuk Bair assault on August 8.

CASUALTIES: 2721 New Zealand soldiers died. 8709 Australians, 33,072 British, 10,000 French and 87,000 Turkish soldiers also died.

LAURENCE BINYON: The man who wrote `For the Fallen' first published in The Times newspaper in London in 1914, when he said his subject was war and the pity of war. His most memorable verse read:

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning

We will remember them

MUSTAFA KEMAL: The inspirational Turkish soldier who told his men he was not asking them to attack, but to die as they threw the invaders off the peninsula. He also wrote the memorable words now cast in stone on the Anzac Cove beach to his fallen enemies.

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives, you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehemets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears, your sons are now lying in our bosoms and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they become our sons as well."

He was later known as Ataturk, the Father of All Turks and in 1923 became the first modern president of the Republic of Turkey.

CYRIL BASSETT: The New Zealand corporal who was the only New Zealand soldier to win a Victoria Cross for bravery on Gallipoli. He was 23 when he landed with the first wave of New Zealand troops on April 25, 1915. Four months later on August 7, as the Kiwis defended Chunuk Bair, Bassett laid a telephone line to the new position in broad daylight and under heavy fire from the Turks. He continued to repair and maintain the line day and night under the Turkish guns.

SIMPSON AND HIS DONKEY: The English medic John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey Murphy, also known as Duffy or Abdul. For 24 days after April 25 Simpson led Murphy as he carried wounded soldiers down to the beach first aid stations before a Turkish soldier shot him dead. He was 22 and had enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces in August, 1914, under the name John Simpson, believing he would get back to England after deserting from a merchant ship in Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1910.

One of the most asked questions by Anzac troops was: "Has that bloke with the donk stopped one yet?"

Simpson never won military honours for his bravery but was recommended for the Victoria Cross the month after he died and in 1967.

In another twist, one of the most famous paintings of Simpson and his donkey, by New Zealand artist Horace Moore-Jones, does not actually portray Simpson.

The painting was taken from a photograph of New Zealand medic Dick Henderson although Moore-Jones, also a Gallipoli veteran, believed the photograph was of Simpson when he painted it in 1917.

POPPY DAY: One of the oldest national appeals, usually on the Friday before Anzac Day. Poppies became the symbol of sacrifice and remembrance after French woman, Madame E Guerin, suggested artificial poppies be made by widows and orphans of dead soldiers. They could be sold to benefit veterans and destitute children of northern France. In 1921, 350,000 small poppies and 16,000 large silk poppies were bought by the New Zealand Returned Services Association. The ship delivering the poppies was delayed and instead of Poppy Day being held on Armistice Day (November 11 when World War 1 ended) it was held the following year on the Friday before Anzac Day.

DAWN SERVICE: A service of remembrance each year for the fallen, timed for dawn because on April 25, 1915, the first soldiers landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula at dawn.

THE FIRST SERVICE: In 1916 in London 2000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers marched through the city on April 25. A London newspaper called them "the Knights of Gallipoli."

NZ CONTRIBUTION: In 1914, New Zealand had a population of slightly over one million. After the war began 124,211 mobilised, and of those 100,444 went overseas. It was 10 percent of the country's population and 40 percent of eligible men between the ages of 20 and 45. Per capita New Zealand made the biggest contribution to World War 1 of any country in the dominion.

CEMETERIES: New Zealand Gallipoli dead lie in 24 cemeteries on the peninsula. Some have their names in memorials because they could not be identified or found. Others also lie in cemeteries around the Mediterranean after they were wounded on the peninsula and died after being evacuated to hospital.

EVACUATION: Anzac troops were evacuated by December 16 and British troops left Cape Helles by January 9, 1916.

GALLIPOLI SLANG: The campaign introduced several new slang words, including Abdul (Turkish soldier), Anzac button (nail used instead of a button to hold up army trousers), Auntie (Turkish broomstick bomb), Banjo (shovel used for digging trenches), Beachy Bill (Turkish gun that regularly shelled Anzac Cove), Body snatcher (stretcher bearer or member of a raiding party sent to capture Turkish prisoners), Clout (a wound), Coffin nail (cigarettes), Cricket ball (Turkish hand grenade), Digger (New Zealand tunnellers digging under enemy lines), Gallipoli gallop (diarrhoea), Gypo (Egyptian), Greyback (louse), Lazy Liz (big shell which droned overhead from HMS Queen Elizabeth), Luna Park (Cairo Hospital), Rock chewer (dry army biscuit), Short arm inspection (genital inspection for venereal disease).


any one new anywebsite hit me up
?
INS Citizenship Test Questions
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers a test to all immigrants applying for citizenship. For years, these questions have been selected from among the following list of 100. How would you do? Many, you will find simple. Others are not so easy. In all cases, the answer USCIS wants to hear is given. (Study Materials and Guides)
NOTE: New Test Questions Coming Oct. 1, 2008
On Oct. 1, 2008 The USCIS will switch a new set of test questions. All applicants who file for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008 will be required to take the redesigned test. For those applicants who file prior to October 1, 2008 but are not interviewed until after October , 2008 (but before October 1, 2009), there will be an option of taking the new test or the current one.
________________________________________
Current USCIS Test Questions
(Click on the question to see the answer.)
1. What are the colors of our flag?
2. How many stars are there in our flag?
3. What color are the stars on our flag?
4. What do the stars on the flag mean?
5. How many stripes are there in the flag?
6. What color are the stripes?
7. What do the stripes on the flag mean?
8. How many states are there in the Union?
9. What is the 4th of July?
10. What is the date of Independence Day?
11. Independence from whom?
12. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?
13. Who was the first President of the United States?
14. Who is the President of the United States today?
15. Who is the vice-president of the United States today?
16. Who elects the President of the United States?
17. Who becomes President of the United States if the President should die?
18. For how long do we elect the President?
19. What is the Constitution?
20. Can the Constitution be changed?
21. What do we call a change to the Constitution?
22. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
23. How many branches are there in our government?
24. What are the three branches of our government?
25. What is the legislative branch of our government?
26. Who makes the laws in the United States?
27. What is the Congress?
28. What are the duties of Congress?
29. Who elects the Congress?
30. How many senators are there in Congress?
31. Can you name the two senators from your state?
32. For how long do we elect each senator?
33. How many representatives are there in Congress?
34. For how long do we elect the representatives?
35. What is the executive branch of our government?
36. What is the judiciary branch of our government?
37. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
38. What is the supreme court law of the United States?
39. What is the Bill of Rights?
40. What is the capital of your state?
41. Who is the current governor of your state?
42. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president should die?
43. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
44. Can you name thirteen original states?
45. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death."?
46. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?
47. What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?
48. How many terms can the President serve?
49. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
50. Who is the head of your local government?
51. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become President. Name one of these requirements.
52. Why are there 100 Senators in the Senate?
53. Who selects the Supreme Court justice?
54. How many Supreme Court justice are there?
55. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
56. What is the head executive of a state government called?
57. What is the head executive of a city government called?
58. What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the Americans colonists?
59. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
60. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
61. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
62. What is the national anthem of the United States?
63. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?
64. Where does freedom of speech come from?
65. What is a minimum voting age in the United States?
66. Who signs bills into law?
67. What is the highest court in the United States?
68. Who was the President during the Civil War?
69. What did the Emancipation Declaration do?
70. What special group advises the President?
71. Which President is called the "Father of our country"?
72. What Immigration and Naturalization Service form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen?
73. Who helped the Pilgrims in America?
74. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
75. What are the 13 original states of the U.S. called?
76. Name 3 rights of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
77. Who has the power to declare the war?
78. What kind of government does the United States have?
79. Which President freed the slaves?
80. In what year was the Constitution written?
81. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
82. Name one purpose of the United Nations?
83. Where does Congress meet?
84. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
85. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
86. Name one benefit of being citizen of the United States.
87. What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens?
88. What is the United States Capitol?
89. What is the White House?
90. Where is the White House located?
91. What is the name of the President's official home?
92. Name the right guaranteed by the first amendment.
93. Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
94. Which President was the first Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
95. In what month do we vote for the President?
96. In what month is the new President inaugurated?
97. How many times may a Senator be re-elected?
98. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected?
99. What are the 2 major political parties in the U.S. today?
100. How many states are there in the United States today?
________________________________________
1. What are the colors of our flag?
Red, White, and Blue.
2. How many stars are there in our flag?
50
3. What color are the stars on our flag?
White.
4. What do the stars on the flag mean?
One for each state in the Union.
5. How many stripes are there in the flag?
13
6. What color are the stripes?
Red and White.
7. What do the stripes on the flag mean?
They represent the original 13 states.
8. How many states are there in the Union?
50
9. What is the 4th of July?
Independence Day.
10. What is the date of Independence Day?
July 4th
11. Independence from whom?
England
12. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?
England
13. Who was the first President of the United States?
George Washington
14. Who is the President of the United States today?
Currently George W. Bush
15. Who is the vice-president of the United States today?
Currently Richard B. ("Dick") Cheney
16. Who elects the President of the United States?
The electoral college
17. Who becomes President of the United States if the President should die?
Vice - President
18. For how long do we elect the President?
Four years
19. What is the Constitution?
The supreme law of the land
20. Can the Constitution be changed?
Yes
21. What do we call a change to the Constitution?
An Amendment
22. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
27
23. How many branches are there in our government?
3
24. What are the three branches of our government?
Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary
25. What is the legislative branch of our government?
Congress
26. Who makes the laws in the United States?
Congress
27. What is the Congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives
28. What are the duties of Congress?
To make laws
29. Who elects the Congress?
The people
30. How many senators are there in Congress?
100
31. Can you name the two senators from your state?
(insert local information)
32. For how long do we elect each senator?
6 years
33. How many representatives are there in Congress?
435
34. For how long do we elect the representatives?
2 years
35. What is the executive branch of our government?
The President, vice president, cabinet, and departments under the cabinet members
36. What is the judiciary branch of our government?
The Supreme Court
37. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
To interpret laws
38. What is the supreme court law of the United States?
The Constitution
39. What is the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution
40. What is the capital of your state?
(insert local information)
41. Who is the current governor of your state?
(insert local information)
42. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and the vice-president should die?
Speaker of the House of Representative
43. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
William Rehnquist (or whoever is next)
44. Can you name thirteen original states?
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Maryland.
45. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death."?
Patrick Henry
46. Which countries were our enemies during World War II?
Germany, Italy, and Japan
47. What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?
Hawaii and Alaska
48. How many terms can the President serve?
2
49. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
A civil rights leader
50. Who is the head of your local government?
(insert local information)
51. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become President. Name one of these requirements.
Must be a natural born citizen of the United States; must be at least 35 years old by the time he/she will serve; must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.
52. Why are there 100 Senators in the Senate?
Two (2) from each state
53. Who selects the Supreme Court justice?
Appointed by the President
54. How many Supreme Court justice are there?
Nine (9)
55. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
For religious freedom
56. What is the head executive of a state government called?
Governor
57. What is the head executive of a city government called?
Mayor
58. What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the Americans colonists?
Thanksgiving
59. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
60. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
July 4, 1776
61. What is the basic belief of the Declaration of Independence?
That all men are created equal
62. What is the national anthem of the United States?
The Star-Spangled Banner
63. Who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner?
Francis Scott Key
64. Where does freedom of speech come from?
The Bill of Rights
65. What is a minimum voting age in the United States?
Eighteen (18)
66. Who signs bills into law?
The President
67. What is the highest court in the United States?
The Supreme Court
68. Who was the President during the Civil War?
Abraham Lincoln
69. What did the Emancipation Declaration do?
Freed many slaves
70. What special group advises the President?
The Cabinet
71. Which President is called the "Father of our country"?
George Washington
72. What Immigration and Naturalization Service form is used to apply to become a naturalized citizen?
Form N-400, Application to File Petition for Naturalization
73. Who helped the Pilgrims in America?
The American-Indians (Native Americans)
74. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
The Mayflower
75. What are the 13 original states of the U.S. called?
Colonies
76. Name 3 rights of freedom guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
The right of freedom of speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and requesting change of government.
The right to bear arms (the right to have weapons or own a gun, though subject to certain regulations).
The government may not quarter, or house, soldiers in the people's homes during peacetime without the people's consent.
The government may not search or take a person's property without a warrant.
A person may not be tried twice for the same crime and does not have to testify against him/herself.
A person charged with a crime still has some rights, such as the right to a trial and to have a lawyer.
The right to trial by jury in most cases.
Protects people against excessive or unreasonable fines or cruel and unusual punishment.
The people have rights other than those mentioned in the Constitution.
Any power not given to the federal government by the Constitution is a power of either the state or the people.
77. Who has the power to declare the war?
The Congress
78. What kind of government does the United States have?
Democracy
79. Which President freed the slaves?
Abraham Lincoln
80. In what year was the Constitution written?
1787
81. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
The Bill of Rights
82. Name one purpose of the United Nations?
For countries to discuss and try to resolve world problems, to provide economic aid to many countries.
83. Where does Congress meet?
In the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
84. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
Everyone (citizens and non-citizens) living in U.S.
85. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
The Preamble
86. Name one benefit of being citizen of the United States.
Obtain federal government jobs, travel with U.S. passport, petition for close relatives to come to the U.S. to live.
87. What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens?
The right to vote
88. What is the United States Capitol?
The place where Congress meets
89. What is the White House?
The President's official home
90. Where is the White House located?
Washington, D.C. (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.)
91. What is the name of the President's official home?
The White House
92. Name the right guaranteed by the first amendment.
Freedom of: speech, press, religion, peaceable assembly, and requesting change of the government.
93. Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
The President
94. Which President was the first Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?
George Washington
95. In what month do we vote for the President?
November
96. In what month is the new President inaugurated?
January
97. How many times may a Senator be re-elected?
There is no limit
98. How many times may a Congressman be re-elected?
There is no limit
99. What are the 2 major political parties in the U.S. today?
Democratic and Republican
100. How many states are there in the United States today?
Fifty (50)














New Naturalization Test Questions
Beginning on Oct. 1, 2008, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will replace the set of questions currently used as part of the citizenship test with the questions listed here. All applicants who file for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008 will be required to take the new test. For those applicants who file prior to October 1, 2008 but are not interviewed until after October , 2008 (but before October 1, 2009), there will be an option of taking the new test or the current one.
New Test Questions and Answers
Some questions have more than one correct answer. In those cases, all acceptable answers are shown. All answers are shown exactly as worded by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
A. Principles of American Democracy
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
A: The Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
A: sets up the government
A: defines the government
A: protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
A: We the People
4. What is an amendment?
A: a change (to the Constitution)
A: an addition (to the Constitution)
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
A: The Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
A: speech
A: religion
A: assembly
A: press
A: petition the government
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A: twenty-seven (27)
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
A: announced our independence (from Great Britain)
A: declared our independence (from Great Britain)
A: said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
A: life
A: liberty
A: pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion?
A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
A: capitalist economy
A: market economy
12. What is the "rule of law"?
A: Everyone must follow the law.
A: Leaders must obey the law.
A: Government must obey the law.
A: No one is above the law.
B. System of Government
13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
A: Congress
A: legislative
A: President
A: executive
A: the courts
A: judicial
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
A: checks and balances
A: separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
A: the President
16. Who makes federal laws?
A: Congress
A: Senate and House (of Representatives)
A: (U.S. or national) legislature
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
A: the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
A: one hundred (100)
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A: six (6)
20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?*
A: Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A: four hundred thirty-five (435)
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
A: two (2)
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
A: Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
A: all people of the state
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
A: (because of) the state's population
A: (because) they have more people
A: (because) some states have more people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
A: four (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
A: November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
A: George W. Bush
A: George Bush
A: Bush
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
A: Richard Cheney
A: Dick Cheney
A: Cheney
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
A: the Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
A: the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
A: the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
A: the President
34. Who vetoes bills?
A: the President
35. What does the President's Cabinet do?
A: advises the President
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
A: Secretary of Agriculture
A: Secretary of Commerce
A: Secretary of Defense
A: Secretary of Education
A: Secretary of Energy
A: Secretary of Health and Human Services
A: Secretary of Homeland Security
A: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
A: Secretary of Interior
A: Secretary of State
A: Secretary of Transportation
A: Secretary of Treasury
A: Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
A: Secretary of Labor
A: Attorney General
37. does the judicial branch do?
A: reviews laws
A: explains laws
A: resolves disputes (disagreements)
A: decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?
A: the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
A: nine (9)
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
A: John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
A: to print money
A: to declare war
A: to create an army
A: to make treaties
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
A: provide schooling and education
A: provide protection (police)
A: provide safety (fire departments)
A: give a driver's license
A: approve zoning and land use
43. Who is the Governor of your state?
A: Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say "we don't have a Governor."]
44. What is the capital of your state?*
A: Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
A: Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
A: Republican (Party)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
A: (Nancy) Pelosi
C: Rights and Responsibilities
48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
A: Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
A: You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
A: Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A: A male citizen of any race (can vote).
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
A: serve on a jury
A: vote
50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
A: apply for a federal job
A: vote
A: run for office
A: carry a U.S. passport
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
A: freedom of expression
A: freedom of speech
A: freedom of assembly
A: freedom to petition the government
A: freedom of worship
A: the right to bear arms
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
A: the United States
A: the flag
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
A: give up loyalty to other countries
A: defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
A: obey the laws of the United States
A: serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
A: serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
A: be loyal to the United States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
A: eighteen (18) and older
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
A: vote
A: join a political party
A: help with a campaign
A: join a civic group
A: join a community group
A: give an elected official your opinion on an issue
A: call Senators and Representatives
A: publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
A: run for office
A: write to a newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
A: April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
A: at age eighteen (18)
A: between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
AMERICAN HISTORY
A: Colonial Period and Independence
58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
A: freedom
A: political liberty
A: religious freedom
A: economic opportunity
A: practice their religion
A: escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
A: Native Americans
A: American Indians
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
A: Africans
A: people from Africa
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
A: because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
A: because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
A: because they didn't have self-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
A: (Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
A: July 4, 1776
64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
A: New Hampshire
A: Massachusetts
A: Rhode Island
A: Connecticut
A: New York
A: New Jersey
A: Pennsylvania
A: Delaware
A: Maryland
A: Virginia
A: North Carolina
A: South Carolina
A: Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
A: The Constitution was written.
A: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
66. When was the Constitution written?
A: 1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
A: (James) Madison
A: (Alexander) Hamilton
A: (John) Jay
A: Publius
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
A: U.S. diplomat
A: oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
A: first Postmaster General of the United States
A: writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
A: started the first free libraries
69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
A: (George) Washington
70. Who was the first President?*
A: (George) Washington
B: 1800s
71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
A: the Louisiana Territory
A: Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
A: War of 1812
A: Mexican-American War
A: Civil War
A: Spanish-American War
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
A: the Civil War
A: the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
A: slavery
A: economic reasons
A: states' rights
75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
A: freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
A: saved (or preserved) the Union
A: led the United States during the Civil War
76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
A: freed the slaves
A: freed slaves in the Confederacy
A: freed slaves in the Confederate states
A: freed slaves in most Southern states
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
A: fought for women's rights
A: fought for civil rights
C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information
78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
A: World War I
A: World War II
A: Korean War
A: Vietnam War
A: (Persian) Gulf War
79. Who was President during World War I?
A: (Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
A: (Franklin) Roosevelt
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
A: Japan, Germany and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
A: World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
A: Communism
84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
A: civil rights (movement)
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
A: fought for civil rights
A: worked for equality for all Americans
86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
A: Terrorists attacked the United States.
87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.
[Adjudicators will be supplied with a complete list.]
A: Cherokee
A: Navajo
A: Sioux
A: Chippewa
A: Choctaw
A: Pueblo
A: Apache
A: Iroquois
A: Creek
A: Blackfeet
A: Seminole
A: Cheyenne
A: Arawak
A: Shawnee
A: Mohegan
A: Huron
A: Oneida
A: Lakota
A: Crow
A: Teton
A: Hopi
A: Inuit
INTEGRATED CIVICS
A: Geography
88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
A: Missouri (River)
A: Mississippi (River)
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
A: Pacific (Ocean)
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
A: Atlantic (Ocean)
91. Name one U.S. territory.
A: Puerto Rico
A: U.S. Virgin Islands
A: American Samoa
A: Northern Mariana Islands
A: Guam
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
A: Maine
A: New Hampshire
A: Vermont
A: New York
A: Pennsylvania
A: Ohio
A: Michigan
A: Minnesota
A: North Dakota
A: Montana
A: Idaho
A: Washington
A: Alaska
93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
A: California
A: Arizona
A: New Mexico
A: Texas
94. What is the capital of the United States?*
A: Washington, D.C.
95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
A: New York (Harbor)
A: Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
B. Symbols
96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
A: because there were 13 original colonies
A: because the stripes represent the original colonies
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
A: because there is one star for each state
A: because each star represents a state
A: because there are 50 states
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
A: The Star-Spangled Banner
C: Holidays
99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*
A: July 4
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
A: New Year's Day
A: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
A: Presidents' Day
A: Memorial Day
A: Independence Day
A: Labor Day
A: Columbus Day
A: Veterans Day
A: Thanksgiving
A: Christmas