Each year, Library Journal, “the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field,” selects what it considers to be the most notable government documents, including those produced by the Federal Government. For 2009, 15 Federal Government publications got the nod, and I plan to discuss them here over the next few weeks.
According to Library Journal, “This year’s list of Notable Government Documents includes titles on history, government policy, mental and physical health, biology, global warming, and environmental protection, among other topics.” One of the more unusual items is a new edition of Civics Flash Cards for the Naturalization Test, a publication from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This set of 100 questions and answers is used by USCIS officers to administer orally; an applicant will be asked 10 of these.
The cards cover the nature and structure of the Constitution, the Federal Government and some basic American history. The questions range from “What is the name of the President of the United States now?” (pretty easy) to “How many amendments does the Constitution have?” (uh-oh). Well, that’s why these cards exist: so someone seeking citizenship can, by practicing, be prepared to take and pass the naturalization test. USCIS deserves credit for putting together such an informative and useful publication. I think it would also make a great study guide for use in schools.
You can purchase the Civics Flash Cards for the Naturalization Test here or view them online here. There’s also a do-it-yourself version here.
Note: Many of the questions have more than one correct answer, luckily for me.
Posted by govbooktalk 
