This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring members of Congress to pass a civics test demonstrating competence in the U.S. system of government.
Wesley Hunt
Representative
TX-38
This proposed constitutional amendment would require all members of Congress to pass a civics examination demonstrating their knowledge of the U.S. system of government. Congress would be responsible for creating and administering this free, decennial test. Serving as a Representative or Senator would be contingent upon passing the exam currently in effect at the time of election or appointment.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment Requires Congress to Pass Civics Test: What it Means for DC and You
Alright, let's talk about something that sounds pretty straightforward but could get wild: a proposed constitutional amendment that says if you want to be in Congress, you gotta pass a civics test. This isn't just a regular bill; it's a Joint Resolution aiming to change the U.S. Constitution itself, which is a big deal. The idea is to make sure everyone serving in the House or Senate actually knows their stuff about how our government works.
The Pop Quiz for Politicians
So, what's the plan? Congress would be on the hook to create a civics exam every ten years, right after the census. This test would be all about showing you understand the U.S. system of government. The questions and answers? They'd be published for everyone to see, and the test itself would be free. Think of it like getting your driver's license, but for legislating: you pass, you get a certificate proving you're competent. The goal here is to ensure that the folks making our laws have a solid grasp of the basics.
Serving Up Civics: The Catch-22
Now, here's where it gets interesting. The resolution says no one can serve in Congress unless they've passed this exam. But, and this is a big "but," if someone gets elected or appointed without having passed it yet, both the House and Senate must give them a chance to take it. They could even pass it through "another method approved by law." This part is a bit squishy, right? It could mean a standard re-test, or it could open the door for some creative solutions that might not be as rigorous. For regular folks trying to understand what their representatives know, this flexibility could feel a little like a loophole.
The Enforcement Power Play
Another detail that caught my eye is about enforcement. Congress would get the power to pass laws to make sure this civics amendment is followed. And here's the kicker: these enforcement laws wouldn't need the President's signature to take effect. That's a pretty unusual move, giving Congress a lot of direct power over how this whole testing system would run without the usual checks and balances from the executive branch. While the intent might be to ensure competence, this kind of unchecked power could raise some eyebrows about potential overreach or political maneuvering down the line.
What It Means for Your Daily Grind
For you, juggling work, family, and rising costs, this bill might seem a bit distant. But imagine if the people making decisions about your taxes, your healthcare, or your kid's education had a deeper, more consistent understanding of how these systems are supposed to function. That's the potential upside. The downside? The creation of this test could become a political football, with different parties trying to shape it to their advantage. And if the "another method" clause becomes too broad, it might undermine the whole point of having a test in the first place.
Ultimately, this is about setting a baseline for knowledge for our elected officials. While the idea of a more informed Congress is appealing, the devil, as always, is in the details of how it would actually be implemented and enforced.