An Oklahoma state representative wants high school students to know how the American government works before graduating.
Republican Representative Terry O’Donnell filed a bill that would require high school students to pass a citizenship test. It'd be similar to the current USCIS Naturalization Exam, which asks questions about the various branches of government, the Constitution, and American history - like who was the president during World War II.
O’Donnell believes the bill will lead to more educated voters in Oklahoma.
“If you don’t understand our democracy and where we’ve been or where we’re going, you’re not going to have an appreciation for the freedoms and the rights and responsibilities that we have here in the United States,” he said.
The bill passed the Oklahoma State House on Monday in a vote of 80-18, KFSM reported. House Democrats voted against the bill because they say it'll force already burned out students to take another standardized test.
The Oklahoma State Senate will have to approve O'Donnell's bill before it becomes law.
If you want to test your civics knowledge, USCIS has an online practice exam.
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