Monday, April 30, 2012

USCIS Civics Flash Cards


Easy-to-use downloadable flash cards containing each of the 100 civics (history and government) questions and answers on the naturalization test.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

USCIS Writing Vocabulary Flash Cards

Easy-to-use flash cards containing vocabulary words to help study for the English writing portion of the naturalization test.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

USCIS Reading Vocabulary Flash Cards

Easy-to-use flash cards containing vocabulary words to help study for the English reading portion of the naturalization test.

Friday, April 27, 2012

West Wing Week: 4/27/12 or "'Don't Double My Rate!'"



'West Wing Week: 4/27/12 or "'Don't Double My Rate!'"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President hosted the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride, visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, and traveled to North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa to launch a sustained effort to get Congress to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling on July 1st. That's April 20th to April 26th or "Don't Double My Rate!"

Thursday, April 26, 2012

USCIS Vocabulary for the Naturalization Interview: Self-Test 2


This activity has words and phrases that an applicant may read on the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, or hear during the naturalization interview.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Earth Day 2012



uscitizenpod: GO GREEN with USPS stamps on Flickr

In honor of Earth Day 2011and 2012 and in celebration of the USPS GO GREEN Forever stamp series, US Citizenship Podcast presents a collection of stamps reflecting America's ongoing commitment to MAKE EARTH DAY, EVERY DAY!


uscitizenpod: GO GREEN with USPS Stamps on YouTube

Saturday, April 21, 2012

USCIS Vocabulary for the Naturalization Interview: Self-Test 1


Vocabulary for the Naturalization Interview:
This activity has words and phrases that an applicant may read on the Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, or hear during the naturalization interview.

Friday, April 20, 2012

West Wing Week: 4/20/12 or "Roll Tide"



wh.gov: West Wing Week: 4/20/12 or "Roll Tide"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President visited one of the Sunshine State's largest ports, attended the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, announced new steps to strengthen oversight of energy markets, welcomed champion NASCAR drivers and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team to the White House, and traveled to Ohio to speak with unemployed workers about the importance of job training program.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

USCIS Understanding Commands for the Naturalization Interview

This activity has commands that an applicant may hear during the naturalization interview. Download the classroom materials to help your students learn and practice these commands.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

USCIS Citizenship Interview and Test



USCIS Citizenship Interview and Test

Official government video from USCIS providing an informative description of the naturalization process and featuring a sample interview and test.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program 2012


USCIS Citizenship and Integration Grant Program 2012

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the availability of a competitive grant funding opportunity designed to promote immigrant civic integration and prepare permanent residents for citizenship. USCIS will offer approximately $5 million in competitive funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. (read more)

Sunday, April 15, 2012

USCIS 100:56 Tax Day?


USCIS 100:56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*

++ April 15


The last day to send in your federal income tax to the Internal Revenue Service is April 15 of each year. (This year, 2012, taxes must be filed by Tuesday, April 17, 2012).

The Constitution gave the federal government the power to collect taxes. The federal government needs money to pay the nation’s debts and to defend and provide for the needs of the country. When the country was young, it was difficult to raise money from the 13 original states.

The government began collecting income tax for the first time through the Revenue Act of 1861. This was only temporary. In 1894, a flatrate federal income tax was enacted, but the Supreme Court said this was unconstitutional.

Finally, in 1913, the 16th Amendment was ratified. It gave Congress the power to collect income taxes.

Today, “taxable income” is money that is earned from wages, selfemployment, tips, and the sale of property. The government uses these taxes to keep our country safe and secure. It also tries to cure and prevent diseases through research. In addition, the government protects our money in banks by insuring it, educates children and adults, and builds and repairs our roads and highways. Taxes are used to do these things and many more. (USCIS M-638 Quick civics Lessons)

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Thomas Jefferson's Role as Slave Owner Explored



VOAVideo: Thomas Jefferson's Role as Slave Owner Explored

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is one of the most revered figures in U.S. history. As the principal author of the Declaration of Independence - which announced America's liberation from British rule and established the rights of man - he wrote that "all men are created equal," yet Jefferson owned 600 slaves during his lifetime. That paradox is explored in two current exhibits, which also provide a glimpse into some of the slaves who lived and worked at his plantation. VOA's Julie Taboh reports. (read more)

Friday, April 13, 2012

Happy Birthday Thomas Jefferson!

USCIS 100:62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?


1976 – The United States Treasury Department reintroduces the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on Thomas Jefferson's 233rd birthday as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration.

USCIS 100:62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

▪ (Thomas) Jefferson

West Wing Week: 4/13/12 or "You're Proof of Change"



wh.gov: West Wing Week: 4/13/12 or "You're Proof of Change"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President hosted a forum on Women and the Economy, welcomed the President of Brazil, traveled to Florida to urge the Senate to pass the Buffett Rule, and took part in the great annual White House tradition, the Easter Egg Roll. That's April 6th to April 12th or "You're Proof of Change."

Thursday, April 12, 2012

FDR and the Four Freedoms

USCIS 100:80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?


In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.

That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), excerpted from the State of the Union Address to the Congress, January 6, 1941

Listen to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's January 6, 1941 State of the Union Address speech introducing the theme of the Four Freedoms (starting at 32:02)

USCIS 100:80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

▪ (Franklin) Roosevelt


Picture Source: Library of Congress

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Mitt Romney Emerges as Presumed Republican Presidential Nominee


VOANews: Mitt Romney Emerges as Presumed Republican Presidential Nominee

In U.S. presidential politics, the race for the Republican nomination is all but decided, after former Senator Rick Santorum suspended his campaign Tuesday, leaving it more likely former governor Mitt Romney will face President Barack Obama in November. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Weekly Address: Easter and Passover Greetings from President Obama



Weekly Address: Easter and Passover Greetings from President Obama

President Obama offers his warmest greetings to all who are celebrating Easter and Passover this weekend, and reflects on the common thread of humanity that binds us all together.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

In Presidential Campaigns, History Repeats Itself


VOANews: In Presidential Campaigns, History Repeats Itself

Politicians have always used every available medium to get their message out to the voters. A new exhibit at the Newseum in Washington DC, explores the news media's evolving role in broadcasting that message - from newspapers to Twitter. VOA's Faiza Elmasry reports.