The Constitution Test

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Every public servant takes an oath to 'Preserve and Protect the Constitution of the United States'. If they don't take the oath, they can't take the job. The problem is, do we have any evidence that they have the slightest idea of what the Constitution is, and the directives contained in it?

Taking the oath should be more than a symbolic ritual.

My idea is to require all would-be public servants, from the lowest to the highest, to take a test on their understanding of the Constitution. If they don't get at least 80% or so, they should be ineligible to serve in a position of trust. After a period of 1 year, they would be able to take the test again.

Test scores should be published, especially for candidates for public office.

This would help to add meaning to the practice of taking the oath of office. If they have to take an oath, why not demonstrate that they understand the highest law of the land?

Why Is This Idea Important?

The Constitution of the United States is the highest law of the land. If we require drivers to take a test before they can drive a car, why not require people with the responsibility of controlling the Government to take a test of it's proper operation? If everyone in government truly understood the Constitution, I think it would have a profound effect.

Idea # 1250Legal & Policy Challenges, constitution, oath of office

Comments

politisal 9 months ago

I read an article in Freethought Today, the Freedom from Religion Foundation newspaper, about a three-star general defending religious freedom in the military, but witihout enough knowledge of the Constitution to discuss the Establishment clause, instead referring the questioner to others. I just went to www.ffrf.org to find the details, but that article is not online at this time. If I can find it, I shall return, as another general once said.

cdithaca 9 months ago

One problem with this idea is that we don't know who would control the content of the test. Another is that we do need flexibility about the Constitution not rigid conformity. Of course, knowing the difference would be nice.

kdtroxel 9 months ago

It should not be to hard for anyone to know the constitution, it is a short 20min read. Very vague, hardly pertanent to the current day.

sobi 9 months ago

They know the constitution.

Congress submits bills that violate it all the time because it gets them name recognition in the media. That's repugnant, but a test would do nothing to stop it.

kdtroxel 9 months ago

It is clear that the size of our current government has vastly outgrown the antiquated system set up in 1776 by the original constitution. Congress can barely function with the weight of so much legislation; resorting to passing bills in mass rather than one by one consideration. The congressional tactic of earmarking legislative favors is by most definitions, outrageous. The office of the president has gained unprecedented war powers with little intention of relinquishing them. The judiciary branch has failed time and time again to reinforce the constitution, over the other two branches of government. The Federal Government is deeply flawed and seemingly bent on spending vast amounts of future revenue to bail out industries founded upon bad decisions and outright fraud. The time to rewrite the rules has come. The Constitution of the United States is the operating system of our government, nothing more. People fear change, this must be overcome. The last election our country voted for the ideal of change, it is now time to deliver upon that promise.

info 9 months ago

There appears a concerted effort to vote down single payer. conservatives have invaded this web site and have registered on jun 1 and voted down single payer actions listed on this web site. They appear organized. It does not appear enough that they have killed a doctor, now they want to kill single payer too. Also they have come and created bogus efforts to question the citizenship of our legitimately elected President. The conservatives have INVADED this web site on June 1. Ban this user.

kdtroxel 9 months ago

Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution of the United States
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

The current Department of Defense (DoD) and its agencies have not been adequately forthcoming of accounting for all of its funding. Defense expense is ever expanding during this period of authorized war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many other areas of the government have also been lax in accounting for all funds spend during the Bush administration. Governmental organizations, such as the CIA, over the years have had little to no disclosure of public funds spent. The failure of the Judiciary Branch of the government to enforce this clearly expressed written section of the constitution has severely tarnished the credibility of this institution.

Article 2, section 1 of the Constitution of the United States
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

If all presidents had their performance graded on how strong the American dollar was verses other countries currencies, then George W. Bush would represent the near absolute end of depravity. In other words, George W. Bush has broken his promise to preserve the value of the United States of America. George W. Bush saw his shadow and attacked with little provocation a foreign country of smaller integrity. All of his reasons for this action have turned to dust, and he keeps the military machine running with the hollow words of “stay the course”; a course of little planning, reasoning, and clear objectives.

“There will always be half-truths and a few lies in politics, it’s the human option, but the President should be the one above it; not the center of it!” KDT

“War is politics by another means - the lethal legacy of failed leadership, enabled, even ennobled, by propaganda, the partisan opiate of politics.”
– Bill Moyer, May 22, 2009

Keary Prophet 9 months ago

I can pass a math test but it wouldn't mean that I appreciate it or give a damn about it..We need something better...

stevensje 9 months ago

Ignoring our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and laws makes many of our leaders lawless.

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