Dumbed-down or wised-up

I wonder how many of us natives would ace a proposed new citizenship quiz being tested by the federal Immigration Service for rollout in 2008.

Instead of just asking wannabe citizens, "What is the Constitution," the new test asks "What does the Constitution do?" Another draft question asks, "Why are there three branches of government?" A third asks, "What major event happened on Sept. 11, 2001, in the United States?" Reformers figure since immigrants swear an oath when they become citizens, they ought to know what they are swearing allegiance to. At least some proposed questions sure beat making immigrants memorize details such as how many stripes are on our flag.

Critics object that some applicants for citizenship can barely read or write and won't be able to understand such questions. But isn't citizenship a privilege, like voting, and isn't it worth trying to encourage new citizens to internalize American values?

We should be a compassionate country, but surely some minimum standards aren't asking too much. In Kentucky, groups already are squaring off over a proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to low-level felons after they've served their time. It's probably DOA in the state Senate. Such offenders currently have to ask the governor in writing to restore their voting rights. A League of Women Voters study charged the current system especially disenfranchises black felons. Others object that it's a hardship on illiterate felons. But if they're that illiterate, how do they vote?