FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2016

CONTACT: Ryan Kelly

651-340-4848
ryank@synergeticendeavors.com

Broad Agreement by Legislative Leaders on Civics Legislation

Despite disagreements on issues ranging from transportation to taxes, legislative leaders find common
ground on proposal to improve civics education among Minnesotas high school graduates.
Saint Paul, MN In the opening week of the 2016 Minnesota legislative session, leaders from both parties
have come together to support the Civics Education Initiative, a state legislative effort aimed at ensuring all
Minnesota high school graduates have a basic understanding of American civics and history.
Minnesota has a strong culture of civic engagement and frequently leads the nation in voter
participation, said Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook). Making sure young people leave high
school with a basic understanding of our system of government and who we are as a country will help
foster that civic awareness in future generations.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 24 percent of U.S. high school students
are proficient in civics, and studies by the Annenberg Public Policy Center show that a third of U.S. adults
are not able to name a single branch of our federal government.
Our founders knew that informing and engaging the next generation on Americans on basic civics was vital
to the survival of our republic, said Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt (R- Crown). Unfortunately, over 200
years after the signing of the Constitution, many students in Minnesota and throughout the country dont
understand basic facts about our government, its creation, or how it works.
The proposed legislation, HF1497 / SF1674, authored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R - Grove City) and Sen. LeRoy
Stumpf (DFL Plummer), will promote active and engaged citizenship by requiring that all Minnesota high
school students, as a condition for graduation, pass a test on 100 basic facts of U.S. history and civics from
the United States Citizenship Civics Test the test all new immigrants must pass to become U.S. citizens.
We can do better for Minnesota students, said Senate Minority Leader David Hann (R Eden Prairie).
This initiative is a tangible first step to ensure high school students graduate with an understanding of the
founding principles of our government and use that knowledge to become engaged citizens.
By using the well-established U.S. Citizenship Test, there will be no need or expense to create a new test or
study materials, as these materials are already available online and for free. The legislation will allow
individual schools to administer the test in a way the school as deems adequate to meet the requirements.
The USCIS Citizenship Civics test consists of 100 basic questions about American civics and history, such as:
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
Name one branch or part of the government.
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?

I strongly support Rep. Urdahls proposal, said House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (D Minneapolis). By
requiring all Minnesota students to pass a basic civics test we will be providing our children with vital
information that they will draw upon in their adult lives and make critical decisions about the future of our
nation, our state, and our local communities
Nine states have already adopted similar legislation, including neighboring states North Dakota, South
Dakota, and Wisconsin. Over two dozen additional states are considering the legislation this year.
About the Civics Education Initiative:
The Civics Education Initiative is an affiliate of the Joe Foss Institute, which was founded to educate
American youth on the importance of our countrys unique freedoms, and to inspire them to public service.
Joe Foss was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, former governor of South Dakota, and first
commissioner of the American Football League.
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