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We take the real America test every day

The Donald Trump proposal, announced Tuesday, to do some “extreme vetting” of would-be immigrants to the United States got me thinking: Just how hard is it these days to become an American?

Trump says he wants to closely interrogate people coming to America to exclude those who don’t believe in our Constitution, who support bigotry and hatred and to admit only those who embrace a tolerant American society. (No, he doesn’t really hear himself when he says that.)

The idea that this might trip up potential jihadists is somewhat far fetched; if you’re willing to die for your religion, you’re probably willing to lie for it. But perhaps there’s some tricky questions out there we don’t know about.

So I took three of the practice tests offered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for those who want to take the next step and become U.S. citizens. That was a total of 60 questions (with several duplicates) and I missed only one! Here’s a look at that test. Warning: America spoilers ahead!

What does the judicial branch do? (Cynical answer: Whatever the U.S. Supreme Court can get five votes to do!) Correct answer: Review the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress and the states.

Who does a U.S. senator represent? (Cynical answer: The highest bidder!) Correct answer: All citizens in a state.

What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? (Cynical answer: Killed all those vampires!) Correct answer: Preserved the Union when the South wanted to secede. Thanks a lot, Lincoln!

What is the economic system of the United States? (Cynical answer: Crony capitalism!) Correct answer: Capitalism.

What is the political party of the president now? (Cynical answer: Commie!) Correct answer: Democrat. And trust me, Democrat-haters, there’s a huge difference between the two.

What is the supreme law of the land? (Cynical answer: Obama’s pen and phone!) Correct answer: The U.S. Constitution. Although the late conservative writer Joe Sobran once opined that the constitution poses no threat to our current form of government, it is still the yardstick used by the Supreme Court when reviewing laws.

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States? (This was the only question I missed, incorrectly guessing Colorado. The correct answer of the choices offered was the Mississippi, the second longest river in the country. Good thing I’m already a citizen!)

When do we celebrate Independence Day? (Cynical answer: Judging by the use of fireworks in my neighborhood, anytime in the month before and month following July 4.)

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Correct answer: Thomas Jefferson. Bonus question: Is there a treasure map on the back written in invisible ink? Bonus answer: Nope. Hollywood lies, people.)

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? (Cynical answer: Deny paying for certain forms of birth control for the employees of your closely held corporation!) Correct answer: This one was tricky, since the other answers — trial by jury (Sixth Amendment), the right to bear arms (Second Amendment), the right to vote (15th, 19th, 24th and 26th amendments) — are all constitutional freedoms. The correct answer on the test: freedom of speech.

For anybody who’s studied U.S. history or the Constitution, the test is not hard. But what is hard is applying those principles to decide what kind of a society we want within the confines of our history, founding documents and the world’s changing nature. How we deal with the threats to our democracy and preserve it without destroying the principles that have made this country great is the test that all Americans — new and old alike — take every day.

Steve Sebelius is a Review-Journal political columnist. Follow him on Twitter (@SteveSebelius) or reach him at 702-387-5276 or SSebelius@reviewjournal.com.

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